By Pam Wright
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Its founders are stepping down, but the work of a local charity devoted to Mother Teresa’s vision will continue.
After 15 years, John and Sandra Van Raay will no longer serve as president and vice-president of the Chatham-Kent chapter of Canadian Food for Children.
The couple has put heart and soul into the organization, but now want to spend more time with their grandchildren and great grandchildren.
They have no regrets about the time they’ve invested helping children on the other side of the world.
“It’s been a joy to me to have been able to do what we have done,” Sandra said recently, noting the charity has fed children and donated supplies to countries in Africa and South and Central America.
“Our main focus is carrying on Mother Teresa’s work overseas, as well as helping locally,” John added.
Founding the group was part of answering God’s call, the couple said, and the charity also provided an opportunity for others to do so.
The local group’s mission to feed the people Mother Teresa called the “poorest of the poor” had humble beginnings. Its first home was in the basement of Blessed Sacrament Church.
Today it has 50 volunteers and occupies a 5,000 sq.-ft. warehouse on Inshes Avenue.
The space is chock full of a wide array of donated goods ranging from kitchenware to shoes to sewing machines.
Locally sewn items are another part of the goods that are shipped overseas.
Incoming vice-president Heather Slavik co-ordinates a group of volunteers who knit and sew hundreds of items for the impoverished.
Between volunteers in Chatham, Kingsville and Wallaceburg, Slavik said the group has produced more than 1,500 dresses and around 1,000 trousers for children and youth.
“The people who knit and sew humble us,” Slavik said.
In January 2022 alone, CFFC sent three 25-foot truckloads of goods – including desks and chairs donated by the St. Clair Catholic District School Board – to a Mississauga warehouse.
Between 10,000 to 15,000 lbs. of non-perishable food, such as beans, peanut butter and powdered milk that are locally sourced are included in each transport load as well.
The items are then bundled in shipping containers and sent to some 25 countries supported by the CFFC. The Chatham-Kent group has shipped an average of 10 transport truckloads of goods per year.
The Canadian Food for Children agency was founded in 1985 by Dr. Andrew and Joan Simone, and St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The Chatham-Kent chapter began in 2006.
The Van Raays became involved when Sandra was the youth co-ordinator at Blessed Sacrament Church. Youth from the church took an interest in the CFFC and Chatham-Kent’s involvement grew from there.
It is a non-denominational organization that embraces people of all faiths and all walks of life.
The new leadership team includes new president Cindy Bonvarlez Waddick and Slavik. Francine DeMeyer will continue as secretary, along with treasurer Marvin Merritt.
While the VanRaays are stepping down from leadership roles, they will continue to serve as volunteers.
The CFFC warehouse is open for donations on Monday and Thursday mornings from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The warehouse is located at the south end of Inshes Avenue, Unit 11.
