Branching Out holding spice drive for area food bank

By Sam Odrowski

The Orangeville Food Bank receives lots of non-perishable food donations through the holiday season, but a common staple for any kitchen that's rarely on their shelves is spices.

This issue was recently recognized by Nicole Fortin, participant of Branching Out Support Services (BOSS), which offers programming to people who have neurodiversities.

The people that BOSS serves volunteer at the local food bank on Wednesdays and in speaking with the food manager there, Fortin learned that all they have is pepper and salt for their clients.

This sparked her idea of running a Spice Drive, similar to a food drive but for spices, running now until December 15.

Anybody who has new or sealed spices in their cupboards is encouraged to drop them off at Branching Out Support Services, 5A First Street, in the brown box between their doors. 

When developing the Spice Drive fundraiser, Fortin said she thought of all the spices she uses that might be needed by users of the local food bank, and how they make food taste a lot better.

“They don't want a plain chilli or soup or nachos or tacos that they're making that day… it's boring,” she told the Citizen. “You want the taste to be good, make the food more flavourful.”

Some of the spices she recommends for donation include dill, oregano, chilli powder, turmeric, taco seasoning, bay leaves, nutmeg and cayenne but all spices are welcome – sweet or savoury.

The spice drive is a team effort by the participants at Branching Out and a continuation of the work they do to help the community.

All of the spices collected by Branching Out, now through December 15, will be delivered to the Orangeville Food Bank.