It started out as one of those small things - Derek Kedzierski wondered how he could help people needing food in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"I had the idea to just put a table out," said Kedzierski, who owns St. Joseph Bakery on Facer Street in St. Catharines.

"Originally it was going to be my own thing, where at the end of the business day I would put product out and allow anyone to come up and take what they need."

A week ago, he found a two-metre table and put out about 20 loaves of bread and 10 bags of buns after the store closed.

He posted it to his Facebook page, and about 20 people came out. By the end of the night the food was gone.

Soon others were contributing canned goods or money to buy more food, such as pasta and sauce, and Kedzierski needed a bigger table.

Then someone was able to secure four skids full of produce from Gordon Food Service, near Toronto. And the people kept coming.

"Every day, it's been growing," said Kedzierski, who figures the bakery has given away 200 loaves of bread and just as many bags of buns.

"It's not a big deal for me to give what I make, I've got lots of it. But I didn't realize the community demand was so high."

Now the table goes out after closing time each night: Monday to Friday it closes close at 6 p.m., Saturdays at 5 p.m. and Sundays at 4:30 p.m.

The food is free for people who need it. All Kedzierski and his staff ask is that people take what they need but leave some for others.

"It's not my place to ask questions, so if they're there then I assume they have the need. And no one is watching, either," he said.

"We're there to replenish. Sometimes there's not enough room or more people turn out than we're expecting, so we'll come back out and fill more.

"But we're not there to judge or ask questions at all."

One person there Tuesday night called it "a great example of sharing."

"It's a pretty simple concept," said the man, who didn't want to be identified.

Beside him, Katrina Nimeth said, "I very much appreciate it, because it's hard to get into the grocery stores for people everywhere."

Kedzierski said, "My idea was to do it until the COVID pandemic was done and we got through this. But I'll base it on community need after that."

- with files from Julie Jocsak

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