Owl Distribution Makes Donation to Operation Sharing

Wednesday, 17 June 2015 06:29

$1 000 worth of toiletries will be making their way to Operation Sharing, thanks to an effort by Owl Distribution.

WOODSTOCK - A distribution company from Woodstock is prepared to make a large donation to Operation Sharing's Food for Friends Program.

On Thursday Owl Distribution will be donating $1 000 worth of taxable items to the program. The donation includes many different types of toiletries to families in need. Human Resources Manager for Owl Distribution, Jody O'Neail, describes what Owl Distribution did over the last two and half months to put this donation together: "Collecting taxable items for Operation Sharing to assist with the food cards that they are handing out to those who are less fortunate. So we will be taking over all of the collection that the employees have put together, such as shampoos, deodorant, toothpaste, toothbrushes, that sort of thing - over to the Operation Sharing head office. Then they will be distributing those as needed with the food cards."

O'Neail says Owl Distribution had a very specific goal in mind at the outset of this initiative. "It actually started about a year and a half ago - we were looking for something local and something that we felt we could make an impact on. I got in contact with Steve Giuliano with Operation Sharing and he told me about the soup kitchen. So we've been sending two employees going over there once a week, volunteering at the soup kitchen. And from there, just conversations about what we could do to further assist."

"I think I can speak for the employees in general, in that it has been a very rewarding program here for us at Owl." O'Neail says. "It's definitely something that with the soup kitchen experiences, and that we've had getting out and trying to assist people who are less fortunate - it has been very beneficial here at Owl."

To find out how you can get involved with Operation Sharing, or to donate to their programs visit OperationSharing.com

Operation Sharing's Food for Friends program provides emergency food assistance through food cards as an alternative or to supplement the food bank. Recipients of the cards can do their grocery shopping at any of the participating stores in Woodstock and Ingersoll. Funding comes mainly though donation of quarters at grocery stores and through public donations. Donations are accepted in Woodstock at Sobeys, Foodland, Rexall, Shoppers Drug Mart, Steve's Automotive, Giant Tiger, Food Basics and Pharmasave or in Ingersoll at Foodland, Independent Grocer, Giant Tiger, and Pharmasave.