The Rural Voice, 2000-12, Page 21clearing house for various food banks
across Ontario. You can go there and
see shipments of food destined for
other food banks, he says.
The food banks -have been grateful
for Mistele's work, presenting him
with a special award. As well the
letters of thanks flowed in to Ontario
Pork. "I want you to know that you
have helped make a difference in the
lives of others in this community and
surrounding area," said the Salvation
Army Family Services in Fenlon
Falls.
And the University of Guelph's
Ontario Agriculture College
presented Mistele with its
Agri -Food and Rural Volunteer
Recognition Award last spring.
Mistele and Ontario Pork are
gearing up for their Christmas 2000
food drive and Keith Robbins will
kick-off the campaign at the "Recent
Developments in Pork Production"
seminar at Shakespeare, November
29.
While Ontario Pork has created a
province -wide program of donation,
the aim is not to replace the local
programs like Perth's, Mistele says.
Some of the counties complained
"We don't know where this product
ends up," he says. To encourage even
more local programs, a special kit has
been prepared from Ontario Pork to
help people get started.
Getting a program started is one
thing, keeping it going is another.
Huron County has one of the first,
and one of the most successful
donation programs, primarily the
work of one man, Jody Durand of
Zurich. Durand set up the Huron
Hunger Alliance which, in 1999, saw
at least 31 hogs donated to help those
less fortunate (half as much as the
province -wide program). Huron
producers can deliver pigs to a
number of abattoirs around the
county which will process the pigs
free of charge and provide the meat
to any one of eight food banks.
But Durand's life has moved on
and there has so far been no one to
take over co-ordinating the program
and at this point its future is unclear.
Despite the problems getting and
keeping the donate -a -hog programs,
the generous hearts of pork producers
cannot be faulted. For less fortunate
families, it provides a helping hand
in a season when hope is essential.°
� May Christmas Fill
Your Home With Joy
Warm Holiday Greetings
from Mark Harding & Staff
Put a Little J ohn Deere
in Your Holidays
EO `. i . .
TOYS FOR THE KID IN YOUR FAMILY
ilii■i■ t
BRUCE
TRACTOR
III■mm•• in
& LAWN CARE LTD.
113 JOHN DEERE
BRUCE TRACTOR
& LAWN CARE LTD.
R.R. 4, Walkerton (519) 881-2231
DECEMBER 2000 17