Community Care of St. Catharines-Thorold is collecting extra fruits and vegetables for their Harvest Days food drive.

Community Care is asking for donations of extra tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, peaches and other fruits and vegetables to be dropped off at several locations throughout Thorold and St. Catharines.

Nancy McIntosh, fund development officer, says that fruits and vegetables are often items that are missing from shelves at Community Care because they are perishable.

However, they can be donated during the Harvest Days food drive because of special barrels designed for perishable foods located at several sites across the cities.

She said the organization asks for fruit and vegetable donations at this time of year because of the seasonal harvest.

"At this time of the year when items are so plentiful in so may people's gardens and with so many farmers having extra vegetables and fruits we're asking if you do have extras, that you can donate them to Community Care. There is somebody who would really enjoy having those fruits and vegetables," she said.

The food drive, which lasts until Thanksgiving, used to be a one-day event, but has stretched over the end of summer and beginning of fall.

Special barrels are located at all fire stations in St. Catharines and the main fire station in downtown Thorold on Towpath Street.

Donations can also be dropped off at either of the Community Care locations at 12 North St. in St. Catharines or 19 Albert St. in Thorold.

Non-perishable foods will continue to be accepted at Community Care. Monetary donations are also welcome via www.communitycarestca.ca or by calling 905-685-1349. Visa, MasterCard and cheque or cash are accepted.

"All the money goes towards items missing on our shelves," said McIntosh.

She said that food donations are usually down in the summer.

"A lot of people are on holidays and weather is nice they just don't really think about someone in need like they do in the winter around Christmas, it's just not in the forefront of their minds."

McIntosh stresses that every little bit helps, even if it is a small donation.

"Even just donating one item when you're doing your weekly shopping would make a tremendous difference to the clients of Community Care."