Snow squalls are possible Friday.
Hazards:
Locally heavy snowfall with total accumulations possibly exceeding 25 cm.
Reduced visibility at times in heavy snow.
Timing:
Friday morning into Friday night.
Discussion:
A burst of heavy snow and blowing snow is possible Friday as a lake effect snow squalls push southwest through the morning and early afternoon. More stationary snow squall bands will set up again Friday evening bringing higher snowfall accumulations overnight. At this time it is uncertain exactly where these snow squalls will set up.
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Travel may be hazardous due to sudden changes in the weather. Visibility may be suddenly reduced at times in heavy snow. Surfaces such as highways, roads, walkways and parking lots may become difficult to navigate due to accumulating snow.
Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or tweet reports using #ONStorm.
Crystle Avery said items like pet food are needed at Chalmers.
Chalmers Community Services Centre at 41 Macdonell St. in ߲ݴýis the Chalmers Downtown location. There is also Chalmers West, at 577 Willow Rd., in the portable behind the church.
‘The needs are great right now’: Guelph’s Chalmers has more guests and serves more food portions than ever before
New director Crystle Avery at Chalmers Community Food Services Centre is happy to be there
Chalmers in ߲ݴýoffers food pantry service in two locations and also has a café and snack program that has started up again Monday and Tuesday mornings at Chalmers Downtown and Thursday morning at Chalmers West.
(Chalmers) is serving more groceries than ever before, and still seeing a lineup of guests.
Chalmers has a new executive director, and the board members, staff and volunteers are working hard to grow their services to meet the needs of the community.
Crystle Avery said she has a long history in education and not-for-profit work and loves being at Chalmers.
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“I was volunteering for a year before I started as executive director. I was volunteering on the food line and portioning, which I absolutely loved and was super impressed with this organization,” Avery said. “I’m really happy to be here.”
She hopes to get the word out that they are open for café hours, food pantry services and more, and trying to meet the growing needs they are seeing in the community.
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“That’s what we’re here for, to serve the hungry, and the more hours we’re open, the better,” she said.
Chalmers is once again offering the Monday and Tuesday morning café and snacks at Chalmers Downtown from 9:30 a.m. to noon and Wednesday and Friday during the food pantry distribution. Thursdays the café is held at Chalmers West from 9 to 11 a.m.
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Their food pantry is available to guests once every two weeks on Wednesday at 6:30 to 8 p.m. and Friday from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Chalmers Downtown, and Thursday from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Chalmers West.
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“The needs are great right now,” said Avery.
Chalmers Community Services Centre at 41 Macdonell St. in ߲ݴýis the Chalmers Downtown location. There is also Chalmers West, at 577 Willow Rd., in the portable behind the church.
Joy Struthers Metroland
Janet Wood, chair of the board of directors, said the needs are increasing and the funding is decreasing for them, like with many other not-for-profits. She also said the number of guests has gone up steadily since it opened there in 2016.
They are serving 2,000 portions a month now, which is a basket of chosen food items. This is an increase of about 445 portions a month from what they served in 2023. Avery said that last year they served a total of 18,668 portions.
Wood said folks line up down the street and enjoy coming into the café for coffee and snacks, and like the accessible setup at Chalmers.
“People get choices from what we serve. I think people are surprised when they hear that and it’s a really important thing,” said Wood.
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It’s like they’re in a store and get to select their items from canned goods to fresh produce.
“The quality is what impressed me,” said Avery.
Chalmers recognizes some folks have different preferences and needs and they try their best to accommodate them. They do not serve meat, but have eggs, powdered milk, grains and beans, pasta and many other healthy choices.
“We started offering eggplant about a year ago, which is exceedingly popular,” said Wood.
They offer a basic portion with certain choices, but sometimes have special items that are donated as well. Some personal hygiene products are greatly needed, as well as diapers and pet food. They love to get items donated at Chalmers, but Wood said the biggest need is for funding to buy the things that are in demand.
Janet Wood and Crystle Avery stand behind food that’s ready to be portioned out for distribution at Chalmers on Oct. 21.
Joy Struthers Metroland
When people come, they are welcomed at the service desk and can get themselves a coffee or treat in the café area.
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“We don’t ask people for anything more than their names to be barrier free, the downside of that is that we don’t have data on who our guests are,” said Wood.
She said they do know from Wellington Dufferin ߲ݴýPublic Health that 18 per cent of residents in ߲ݴýare food insecure, and many of them are employed.
Chalmers has a huge diversity of guests, and some are newcomers to the country. Some are seniors, and many, said Wood, are kids.
Families in Guelph, especially single-parent ones, are really struggling, Wood said.
“I would add that the hardest thing is when you don’t have any food left, and you have to turn people away,” said Avery. “We do run out.”
Items like eggs and cheese go very quickly, she said. People can come for diapers every other week, but they just give out a small bundle at a time.
Chalmers does accept donations of clothes and shoes and other items as well for their guests, because they often have other needs as well. With the cold winter quickly approaching, many guests are in need of warm items for their families.
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They will soon be starting up their Christmas Gift Bag Campaign and said giving these gifts to their guests is very special.
“Sometimes this is the only gift that our guests will get,” said Avery.
More details will be coming soon.
For more information about Chalmers locations, the work they do, or to donate, visit .
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