30 years and 100s of tonnes of food later: The Y's Men's Food Drive

The Charlottetown Y's Men's Food Drive is marking its 30th year, and hundreds of volunteers will be out collecting on Monday.

The event is the collects food for the Upper Room Food Bank.

"It is, by far, our biggest food drive," said food bank manager Mike MacDonald.

"I don't know where we would be without the support of the Y's Men and, of course, the support the community gives."

First drive in 1986

The drive started in 1986 with an idea from one Y's Men's club member, who also happened to be on the board of the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry.

"We thought it was going to be a one-shot deal and we collected, I think it was, four tonnes of food," said drive organizer Bill Irwin, who was there for that first even.t

"But the public of Charlottetown were very receptive."

The first drive had a few dozen volunteers. This year 500 are expected. They be members of the Y's Men and other service clubs, sports teams, and other interested community members.

The food drive is Monday, Oct. 24 from 6-8 p.m. Residents of the Greater Charlottetown Area are asked to leave bags of non-perishable food items on their doorsteps for the volunteers to collect.

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