Hundreds of Islanders in need turn out for Care Fair

More than 1,000 Islanders in need showed up at the Care Fair Saturday in Charlottetown and left with everything from clothing to linens to groceries.

All for free.

It was organized by Betty Begg, a frequent volunteer with the Salvation Army and PEI Food Share. She spent months collecting food, clothing and household items to give away, no questions asked.

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"I've been in that situation when I was younger, and I know the feeling of not having it for my children, and not having the food and whatnot," she said.

It's a feeling some people feel embarrassed about.

"I was pretty nervous to come," said one woman who did not want to be identified. "Thought, who is going to recognize me, who is going to know I'm doing so poorly, when it maybe doesn't look like it.

"We like to pretend we're doing OK, because it's embarrassing. Who wants to walk around complaining about what they need all the time? You want to keep your dignity and hold your head up and pretend that everything is OK."

Some people think you're just out to get a "freebie," the woman said.

"There's always that people not believing you need the help. As if it's any of their business, what's going on in your bank account. And you don't want to be defending yourself, 'Oh I was there because,the heat bill was so high.'"

But nobody had to justify their presence at the Care Fair.

"They felt loved and they felt blessed and it was a great day for everybody," Begg said.

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