Hank Klassen

South East Helping Hands is seeking the public's assistance at the upcoming Pioneer Days Parade.

Helping Hands will be teaming up with Farm Credit Canada and the Southeast Thistles Rugby Club, accepting non-perishable food items along the parade route.

"We are quite desperate," says Hank Klassen, Chair of Helping Hands board of directors, who says he's never seen the food supply this low in his 32 years of service. "Our shelves keep getting emptier and emptier. We basically have some soup and some mixed bean, we barely have enough food to put hampers together."

Klassen says there is a huge gap between their food drives in the winter and fall and they've used the parade in the past to try and meet the need during the summer months when people often forget to donate.

The local rugby club recognized the need and have decided to do more then just give a few tins, they'll be pushing carts along the parade route, trying to intimidate the spectators into giving whatever they have.

"At the start of this year, as a club, we decided we needed to do something for the community because the community does so much for us," says Les Whatford, President of the Southeast Thistles. "Steinbach comes and supports us, so we have to do something for Steinbach."

Farm Credit Canada has also been involved with the Helping Hands parade float the past few years, donating a tractor and a trailer to haul all the non-perishable goods that are donated.

Klassen adds that fresh produce is very popular at their centre on Main Street and if anybody is harvesting extra in their gardens they should feel free to drop it off.

South East Helping Hands Wish List
Crackers
Cookies
Canned Peas
Canned Corn
Pasta
Rice
Cereals
Ketchup
Mustard
Relish
Coffee
Pasta Sauce
Cake Mix
Jello
Pudding
Juices
Flour
Detergent
Dish Soup
Fresh Produce