Pat Vale-Dougherty, administrative assistant to the dean, UOIT Faculty of Education, and Kevin Dougherty, professor, Durham College schools of Business and Information Technology are co-chairs of this year's campuswide Holiday Food Drive.
Leigh Boddy and her family lost everything when President Robert Mugabe forced them off their tobacco farm in Zimbabwe almost three years ago.
After moving back to her native Canada with her husband and two sons, the family struggled to get back on their feet. Boddy was lacking the required credentials for her profession and her Malawi-born husband wasn't eligible to work right away. The family's only income was the money she earned through minimum wage retail jobs. Hoping to improve their financial situation, Boddy took a risk and decided to go back to school for her Bachelor of Education at the University of Ontario Institute of Technology (UOIT).
In December 2006, things were very tight and the prospect of having a real Christmas with turkey and gifts was dismal for Boddy and her family. Aware of her difficult situation, Boddy's peers mentioned the annual campus holiday food drive organized at Durham College and UOIT and asked if they could register her family. She didn't let her pride get in the way of accepting their offer to help.
"Mugabe took (our pride) from us a long time ago," Boddy said.
The family received a hamper full of canned goods, fresh food, gift certificates and a turkey, something Boddy says they would never have been able to afford.
"It was marvellous," she said. "We had enough food for the holidays and we were still eating it three months later."
Every day, many people in Durham Region struggle to buy food to feed their families. In fact, according to the Durham Region Health Department, approximately one in seven households has reported food shortages this year.
In order to help, Students for Humanitarianism and Action through Respect and Education (SHARE), Durham College, UOIT, Trent in Oshawa, the Student Association and the Oshawa Kinsmen Club are running the annual campuswide holiday food drive.
"For more than 16 years, students, faculty, staff and local businesses have donated money, canned goods and time to help families in need," said Kevin Dougherty, professor, Durham College schools of Business and Information Technology, and this year's food drive co-chair with his wife Pat Vale-Dougherty, administrative assistant to the dean, UOIT Faculty of Education. "It really brings our campus together and gives everyone a chance to participate in something special for the holiday season."
Since that fateful holiday season, life for the Boddy family has improved substantially. Boddy is a teacher with the York Region District School Board. They were also recently able to buy a house.
Though they have always known the importance of helping others, it's not surprising that the Boddys are even more passionate about it now. This year, among other charitable initiatives, their two sons will be delivering Santa Claus Fund gift boxes from the Toronto Star to children in need, just like they were only a year ago.
The Campus Holiday Food Drive runs until Friday, December 14. For information on how you can help, contact Kevin Dougherty at kevin.dougherty@durhamcollege.ca or Pat Vale-Dougherty at pat.vale-dougherty@uoit.ca.