Feeding meters helps feed children

Prince Edward County Mayor Peter Mertens (centre) handed $3,465.43 to Meribeth deSnoo, executive director of The Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation. Offering thanks to Prince Edward County's efforts, at left, were Kellie Brace, Food for Learning co-ordinator and Elaner Pound, the program's foundation chairman. At right, Lynn Leavitt and Tom Bakker, of the Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture, as sponsors of the program, along with Prinzen Ford, Bloomfield..

Food for Learning programs in Prince Edward and Hastings counties will be bountiful this year due to the success of the Feed the Meter campaign.

Throughout December, parking was free in downtown Picton, Bancroft, Belleville, Frankford, Stirling and Trenton. Visitors were asked to “feed the meter” as a fundraiser for school Food for Learning programs and helped raise $27,013.18.

Funds will be used to purchase nutiritious food for breakfast, snack and lunch programs in 59 local schools: 24 in Belleville, 17 in Quinte West, eight in Prince Edward County, seven in North Hastings and three in Stirling. All funds raised in a particular community will be shared among the schools in that community.

“The generosity of the public is overwhelming,” said Maribeth deSnoo, Executive Director of The Hastings and Prince Edward Learning Foundation. “The success of this campaign lies directly with the people who kindly donated throughout the holiday season. On behalf of the many children and youth who rely on Food for Learning programs, thank you!”

The amounts raised in each community include meter donations, sponsor donations and other community donations.
Picton: $3,465.43
Bancroft: $889.47
Belleville: $12,241.94
Quinte West: (Trenton & Frankford), $9,955.59
Stirling: $460.75

Total meter revenue increased by almost $5,000 over last year. In Trenton the increase was $1,697; in Belleville the increase was $2,227.06; and in Picton the increase was $472.60.

This was the third year for the fundraising initiative. Through the support of the mayors, councils and downtown business associations of Picton, Belleville and Trenton, parking was free at the downtown meters throughout the month of December. During that time, visitors and shoppers in the downtown areas were invited to continue to put money in the meters as a donation to the Food for Learning programs.
Feed the Meter expanded into communities that did not have sidewalk parking meters.  Temporary parking meters were placed throughout Bancroft, Frankford and Stirling during December. As a result, more schools will benefit from this campaign.

The Learning Foundations also thanks Prinzen Ford and the Prince Edward Federation of Agriculture for support as campaign sponsors.