June 27th Miracle a roaring success

WINDSOR-ESSEX — The June 27th Miracle organizers had their eyes on a world record for a one day food drive and while the numbers are still being tabulated, they can easily classify it as a roaring success.

Volunteers across Windsor-Essex have filled arena floors to the brim with non-perishables donated by the people of Windsor-Essex.

Mike Diab, who is the June 27th Miracle Leamington leader, was quick to speak of the generosity of others.

“So many local companies have stepped up to help,” he said. “The generosity of this community is outstanding.”

“Where COVID may have separated us physically, it really has brought us closer together,” he said.

Diab and his crew of about 200 volunteers at the Unico Arena took in truckload after truckload of non-perishable items that local residents had left on their doorsteps on Saturday.

One of those volunteers was Vita Fiore, who led the sorting and packing crew inside the Unico rink. She stressed that they still need help.

“Anyone wanting to help pack and sort this week and next, please come to the back Zamboni door of the Unico rink between 9 am and 9 pm Monday through Friday,” she said. “We still have lots to do.”

And while those volunteers worked tirelessly in the heat inside, another 200 volunteers scoured the streets of Leamington to bring those goods in.

Three members of the June 27th Miracle Leamington leadership team on Saturday at the Unico rink inside the Nature Fresh Farms Recreation Centre, from left are Vita Fiore, Mike Diab and Christine Montgomery.

In Kingsville, the drill was about the same with numerous volunteers driving up and down the streets and returning goods to drop-off locations at Kendrick Funeral Home and Pelee Island Winery.

All food collected locally stays within the community first, and then will be funneled elsewhere once the local community’s food banks and other charities are full.

For Diab, this three week whirlwind has been hard work, but rewarding.

He’s no stranger to giving out food to people who need it. His Christmas ‘Talking Over Turkey’ giveaway has become a very popular charity event in Leamington.

All told, over 10,000 volunteers participated in the June 27th Miracle in Windsor and Essex County. The original ‘Miracle’ idea was the brainchild of James Rasmussen of Chatham- Kent, who led a group of dedicated individuals through the May 16th Miracle there.

Locally, the idea was picked up by Josh Lane and a number of other volunteers and organized in the matter of about three weeks.

A finalized weight of what was collected locally and throughout Windsor- Essex will be available for next week’s paper, as well as a list of the companies that stepped up to help the cause.