Record-breaking generosity: Cans for a Cause shatters previous totals in Windsor

Cans for a Cause shatters last year's record. (Travis Fortnum/CTV News Windsor)

Windsor residents once again showed the power of community — and then some.

The 22nd annual Cans for a Cause fundraiser wrapped up Friday night at Devonshire Mall with record-setting totals, collecting $60,826.60 in cash donations and 156,704 food items for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul.

Those numbers mark a significant jump from last year.

In 2024, the annual fundraiser brought in $41,879.80 and 60,098 cans, making this year’s totals more than double the food donations and nearly $19,000 more in cash.

The event brought together volunteers from the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, Bell Media, its radio stations — Virgin Radio, AM800 and 89X — along with CTV News Windsor.

Volunteers were on site from 5 a.m. until 9 p.m., collecting donations.

Society treasurer Bernie Hamlin says the response was overwhelming.

“Last year I thought was great. This year’s even greater. And the need is so great,” Hamlin said.

Even with more than 156,000 food items collected, Hamlin says the reality is sobering.

“The stuff we collected today is only going to last for a couple of months,” he said.

The Society says the donations collected Friday will only carry them through to March, highlighting the continued pressure food banks are facing as demand remains high.

Jennifer Wilson, vice-president of the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, says seeing the turnout was deeply moving.

“It’s just been absolute medicine for my soul to see the joy on everybody’s face when they drop by and drop off these massive, massive donations,” Wilson said.

“With the economy, I’m expecting one, two cans — but some brought 10 or 12 grocery bags full of stuff — so it’s just been an amazing, amazing day.”

Wilson also emphasized the impact of cash donations, saying they allow the Society to stretch every dollar further.

“A dollar or $2 that you can donate, we parlay that into four times its value with our purchasing power,” she said.

“So whatever you can do, every penny makes a difference right now to us.”

For Hamlin, who has been involved with the Society for more than 22 years, the fundraiser never loses its meaning.

“This day is fantastic. It’s like an early Christmas for me,” he said.

While Cans for a Cause is held once a year, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul says donations are needed year-round to keep up with demand in Windsor.