Mr. Speaker, for over 20 years, St. Thomas More high school has conducted a Halloween 4 Hunger campaign in support the Neighbour to Neighbour Centre in my riding of Hamilton Mountain. Instead of trick-or-treating, students could collect non-perishable food donations for the food bank run by Neighbour to Neighbour.
Sadly, due to COVID-19 restrictions and out of concern for the health and safety of their students, the event has to be cancelled. Forty-two per cent of our current households using the food bank are new to the centre, putting added pressure on the food bank as we head into the holiday season.
Undeterred, the high school is reaching out to the community, asking for financial support for Neighbour to Neighbour. I recognize it has been a difficult time due to the pandemic, but I ask those who can to help the Neighbour to Neighbour food bank by making a financial contribution this year. Details are available on the Neighbour to Neighbour website.
I would like to recognize and thank the students of St. Thomas More for their past and continued efforts to help Neighbour to Neighbour and the residents of Hamilton Mountain.
I would also like to add that it is my daughter's birthday. I wish Megan a happy birthday. She is my youngest daughter at 29 years of age.