The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Unsung heroes herald Easter food driveBy Angela BlackburnOAKVILLE BEAVER STAFFational Volunteer Week is shining a spotlight on volunteers across Canada people who Ngive of their time to help others.Such a group of unsung heroes works well out of the spotlight in a Speers Road industrial unit.This week, like any other, they are doing what they do every year preparing for Fareshare food banks Easter food drive.Under the on-site leadership of long-time Oakville resident Dudley Clarke officially treasurer, but in reality, the guy who runs Fareshare they were busy Monday morning.They faced a crowded line of people who were there for their monthly food bank visit.Its usually busier on Monday than Thursday, but last Thursday was just as busy, observed Clarke rue-fully.He admits he never thought the food banks peak use (354 people/month) witnessed during the recession of 1991/92 would ever be seen again.He was wrong. In 2009, Fareshare had 377 visits a month. That dropped to 357 last year and seemed to plateau for early 2011.So Clarke was surprised to see 382 visits this past MICHAEL IVANIN / OAKVILLE BEAVERMarch.On Monday, Fareshares volunteers moved between FAMILIAR FACES AT FARESHARE: Dudley Clarke and Ron Ziegel, two of the longest-serving volunteers at Oakville's Fareshare foodand around boxes of baked goods, delivered by a local bank on Speers Road, are pictured here in the Fareshare warehouse as the food bank gears up for its annual Easter Food Drive that will begin thisgrocery store and a baker, as they filled grocery orders Saturday, April 16 and continue through Sunday, May 1.in the small warehouse unit that serves as the grocery the middle of explaining just that, Clarke around buying-direct rules and overcameenough toothbrushes as there are peoplestore for Oakvilles needy.is sidetracked and launches into what he doubt as to Fareshares credit rating andin their family as they register to shop.They are gearing up for the annual two-week Easterdubs 'The Toothbrush Story.'now buys toothbrushes from a manufac-Clarke also manages the freshly-bakedfood drive that runs this year from Saturday, April 16 toOne year, Clarke decided toothbrushes turer at the same price offered to govern-bread that arrives from a local bakerySunday, May 1.would be a useful addition to the shop-ment for use in jails, etc.weekly while the bill is handled by aTraditionally a lesser drive than its Thanksgivingping list at Fareshare.Every three months, Fareshare clientssteel company president.relative, its this drive that will stock shelves through theHe eventually maneuvered his way are handed a basket and told to takelong summer and until the Thanksgiving drive rollsSee Filling page 18around again.Its the usual donations of non-perishable foods(everything from cereal, canned goods, chunky stew,soups, rice and more) can be dropped off in FareshareNEJoin the ClubEBUbOins at all local grocery stores, at all Oakville fire stationsYEVAHor from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday to Saturday, atFareshare at 1240 Speers Rd. Unit 6.GNIKNIHTClarke and the group of volunteers who staff the foodNGCHASIPURUTbank do so to help out perhaps keep busy them-ABOselves without a thought to recognition.NIETATSELAERAsThe Oakville Beaver is greeted for its usual pre-NOT SURE WHERE TO BEGIN?food drive interview Clarke admits the awarenessESTWHTUOSdriven by each food drive gets the word out to peopleCanadian Club House isawho, he hopes, will continue to donate even when the?AIDROLFREE SERVICE available to you, the buyer.Fdrive is officially over Clarke prepares to sit down andchat.You can purchase with confidence knowing that we havescreenedA food bank visitor moves through and Clarke asksonly the best real estate agents in any given community. We willthe visitor how her husband is hes at work, shedirect you to financial institutions, lawyers and insurance replies.companies that havebeen tried tested and are true!Im working, too, but come Friday I dont get a paycheque, joked Clarke good-naturedly.Our FREE SERVICE doesnt stop there. Please visitourwebsiteor Its keeping me young and I kid you not, at 82, youcall the toll freenumberbelowfor more information.need to be kept young, he laughed.Later, when asked if he or other Fareshare volun-www.canadianclubrealestate.comteers have ever been officially recognized for theirPhone 905 901 5305work, Clarke recalled a couple of occasions. One time, heToll free1855651 4935said he was nominated and attended a celebration din-info@canadianclubrealestate.comner and another time, he nominated some of theFareshare volunteers.We didnt win, he recalled.CANADIANCLUB HOUSEBUYING WITH CONFIDENCE.Hes not there to win at least not for himself. In17 Thursday, April 14, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER www.insideHALTON.com