Jeremy Saunders Wins Humanitarian Award Aiding Local Food Banks

Feb 28, 2013

It is thanks to the efforts of Frontenac Auxiliary OPP Constable Jeremy Saunders that many residents in South and Central Frontenac have become regular supporters of the local food banks. Saunders began the Frontenac OPP “Stuff the Cruiser” food drives in South Frontenac in 2010, and also took over the corresponding event in Central Frontenac that same year. Since then he has helped to raise over $26,500 in food donations for the Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS) and the North Frontenac food banks. When he is not working as an OPP auxiliary constable, Saunders works as a shunter/driver for Tim Horton's at their Kingston warehouse, and it was in recognition of his work for the food bank that he was nominated by one of his fellow employees at Tim Horton's for the company’s annual Humanitarian Award.

It was the second year that Saunders was nominated for the award. He and six other finalists were invited to Oakville, Ont., where the winner was announced in a special live broadcast in front of 500 guests at the Meeting Place Conference Center on February 21.

This year Saunders took home the award, which was presented to him by Tim Horton's CEO, Paul House. In his acceptance speech Saunders said that the food drives would not have been such a success without the help of the 12 other members of the Frontenac OPP Auxiliary Unit. When I spoke to him by phone earlier this week, Saunders highlighted what the recognition means to him. “It's really nice to be recognized and the best part of it all is that it will help to increase the awareness of the needs of local area food banks here in South and Central Frontenac.”

Along with the award came a cheque for $5,000, which the award winner is invited to donate to a charity of their choice. Jeremy has decided to share the cheque between the SFCS and North Frontenac food banks and he will be presenting it to them at a later date.

The next Stuff the Cruiser event will take place on Saturday March 23 at the Sydenham and Verona Foodlands from 10am-3pm. Congratulations, Jeremy.