Chum is asking for donations throughout the month of July with the Open Your Heart challenge. Chum is asking people to give money as they prepare for the Thanksgiving season this year.

Since the COVID-19 Pandemic, inflation has impacted groceries across the board making it more difficult for food shelves. Bradley Zwagerman has worked at Chum for the past two years. He says they used to stretch a dollar donation to buy seven dollars worth of food. But now, prices under inflation is causing it harder to stretch.

“When the team first started this fundraiser in the Thanksgiving Box Giveaway a few years ago, we were at about $8,000 to get the whole thing done,” Zwagerman said. “That has now almost tripled to $18,000, and continuing to rise as food prices just jump through the ceiling. We were able to buy $7 worth of food with a $1 donation, and that has come down to $3 worth of food for every $1 donation.”

The community need for Chum continues to grow says Zwagerman. Now Chum is asking for donations from the community to lend a hand to help people in need by donating money this July to help feed families for the holiday season.

“Last year, we gave away 350, and the demand was so high, we decided to bump it up this year,” Zwagerman said. “We’re buying 450 turkeys, tons of boxes of stuffing, canned corn, pumpkin pie filling, pies themselves, mashed potatoes… Anything you can think of for a Thanksgiving meal.”

People of all income levels rely on the donations and generosity of chum’s services. Christian Gardn is one of many volunteers helping out at chum. He says helping people in the twin ports brings him closer to his faith and make a difference.

“It feels refreshing because you see people from all walks of life benefiting from your help,” Gardn said. Gardn says is interest in helping at Chum started after meeting folks in the community struggling. “Knowing that people in the community are disenfranchised and in need, and also to serve God better,” Gardn saoid.

Gardn also says people can always sign up to volunteer their time to make someone have a special Thanksgiving.

For more information on how to donate to Chum you can read more here. Also for other stories with Chum you can read more here.