Food drive returns for fourth year to help struggling Fort Erie families

Fort Erie’s Crescent Park neighbourhood is preparing for its fourth annual food drive next week.

Organized by Nicole Burns of Fort Erie Home Group, the Fort Erie Food Drive will be gathering non-perishable food items on November 19 to be donated to COPE (Community Outreach Program Erie).

“It’s been a rough few years for many households throughout Fort Erie,” Burns said in an email.

She highlighted rising housing costs, economic uncertainty and grocery inflation among the reasons homeowners, including those on fixed incomes, are feeling the strain.

“It’s become evident just how many families are struggling to make ends meet.”

Before working in real estate, Burns said she worked with at-risk youth and witnessed firsthand how hunger and food insecurity impact a household. Because of that, this food drive is a cause close to her heart.

Since beginning four years ago, the drive has collected more than 1,450 kg of food, including about 590 kg in 2025. Last year’s drive also received $160 in cash donations.

Burns said the drive focuses on the Crescent Park area of Fort Erie because she’s already familiar with the neighbourhood and its residents from other initiatives like a community garage sale and fundraising event. She also has many clients there.

“It felt like the natural place to try something like this,” she said. “The layout also makes it such an easy neighbourhood to navigate.”

Burns aims to make donating to the drive as effortless as possible, so she and her family drive through the neighbourhood to pick up the donations from residents’ porches.

Because of that, she asks that residents register online at forteriefooddrive.com by November 18 in order to be added to the pickup route.

The ask is for non-perishable food items that don’t need to be refrigerated such as pasta, rice, cereal, peanut butter and canned fruits and vegetables. Donations should be placed on porches before 5 p.m. the day of collection. Pickup will take place between 5 and 8 p.m.

She said they typically have 80 to 90 households donate each year, and that an initiative like this relies on ongoing community support and generosity.

“It’s a powerful reminder of how many people do incredible things quietly, never asking for recognition or accolades.”

While the drive currently focuses on the Crescent Park area, she said there are plans to expand next year with similar-style food drives in more Fort Erie neighbourhoods.

Stay Informed

Events, offers, contests, and breaking news, all delivered straight to your inbox.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Subscribe