The needy in the community are the big winners as more two vanloads of non-perishable items were collected in the first annual Lakeshore Village BIA Cruising Easter Bunny.

A team of volunteers on March 27 circled the area collecting bags of food that were left by residents on their porches to help St. Margaret’s Church, on Sixth Street.

All the children had an opportunity to have their photos taken with the Easter Bunny, who said it was the most photos he ever had taken of him.

Organizers said the campaign was a success and they plan to continue it next year.

St. Margaret’s official Julie McMillan said their cupboards were “overflowing” with the much-needed donations to help feed the community.

“We have finished sorting out the food and for the first time in a long time our cupboards are overflowing,” McMillan told volunteers.

The food will be made available to those in need through programs offered by the church.

Kris Korwin-Kuczynski, Chair of the Lakeshore Village BIA, said it was a very successful food drive and thanked the many residents for pitching in.

“This community has been good to us,” he said. “Now it is our turn to give back to the community.”

He thanks St. Margaret’s Church and the New Toronto Ratepayers Association for their support.

John, a volunteer, said he was taken back by the large amount of food left on the porches to pick up.

“It was a fair bit of work,” John said. “But we totally loved it and enjoyed watching the children with the Easter Bunny made our day.”

The Easter Bunny was surrounded by children as he hopped along Lake Shore Blvd., near Sixth Street, handing out candies.

The drivers of vehicles passing by did a double take and many pulled over so their children could get some candies and have a photo taken with the Easter Bunny. Others were blowing their horns.

One young child, in a stroller, recognized the bunny and demanded to have a photo taken with the long-eared rabbit.