In a powerful demonstration of community need and generosity, volunteers with the UHC – Hub of Opportunities distributed 700 Christmas food hampers to Windsor-Essex residents this week. The annual effort underscores how the festive season amplifies the financial struggles faced by a growing number of individuals and families.
A Necessity, Not Just an Emergency Service
June Muir, CEO of the organization, articulated a significant shift in the charity's role. "We were here for emergency situations, but now we’ve become a necessity and people are relying on us," Muir stated. She expressed happiness at being able to provide for families and individuals during tough times, noting that it is getting increasingly hard for people to make ends meet.
The hampers included approximately 500 turkey dinners and 200 chicken dinners, each complete with all the traditional festive trimmings. Recipients received cranberries, potatoes, carrots, onions, salads, stuffing, and cookies to create a full holiday meal.
Community Mobilizes for Drive-Thru Distribution
The main distribution event occurred on Thursday, December 18, 2025, at the UHC's headquarters on Cantelon Drive. Volunteers, including representatives from Plains Midstream Canada, which donated $3,000 to purchase food, loaded hampers into the trunks and back seats of hundreds of vehicles lined up outside. The organization handed out 400 hampers that day alone, with further distributions continuing on Friday and to member agencies.
UHC serves as the central hub for the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association, a network of 15 other local food banks. The scale of need in the region is staggering. In 2024, these food banks recorded 234,000 visits, comprising 163,000 adults and more than 70,000 children. Muir reported this figure represents an 11 per cent increase over 2023. The UHC itself provides food for about 300 people every day.
Dispelling Myths About Food Bank Users
Muir was keen to address common misconceptions about who seeks assistance. "People are asking, who’s utilizing a food bank?" she said. "And I’m explaining there are a lot of myths and misconceptions. It’s working people. It’s people on fixed incomes. It’s your neighbors. It’s your friends."
She cited a recent Feed Ontario Hunger Report that found one in four people using food banks are employed. This statistic highlights the crisis of affordability even for those with jobs.
Muir extended a heartfelt thank you to the Windsor community for its support during the Christmas season. "I’m very thankful that I can sit down and enjoy a turkey dinner at Christmas time," she said. "I feel good to know others are now going to be able to sit down and enjoy the dinner that they otherwise would have went without."
The UHC – Hub of Opportunities continues to accept donations to support its year-round and seasonal programs. Community members can contribute online at uhc.ca, with the option to add a note specifying how they wish their donation to be used.
