CLARENVILLE-SHOAL HARBOUR, N.L. — It’s an iconic trademark dish and popular meal for many Canadians, but for Marcus Robertson of Shoal Harbour, Kraft Dinner is an essential part of his life.
The 15-year-old has autism, and KD spirals, in particular, is one of only a few things he will eat.
So, when his mother, Connie Frye, searched stores in the area last Thursday for boxes of KD spirals and couldn’t find any, she panicked.
“One of the store clerks told me that during the pandemic, Kraft is focusing on essentials, which I completely understand, but it was devastating,” Frye said.
“Food issues has been one of the biggest struggles for us since he was about two years old.”
She was so upset, as she was leaving one of the stores, she texted her friend, Treshana Gosse, who works with the Autism Society of Newfoundland and Labrador.
“I sent basically a 911 text to her and said, ‘My child is going to starve,’” Frye said.
Update May 15 2020: We believe we have enough KD spirals!!! Our faith in humanity knows no bounds. In the past 24 hours...
Posted by TD Gosse on Thursday, May 14, 2020
Gosse was quite aware of Marcus’s severe food sensitivity and felt their pain.
“When his mom reached out, I knew this was a sure situation,” Gosse said. “The production of Kraft spirals is expected to stop for a number of months. Can you imagine one if your staple foods in a very limited diet being unavailable?”
Gosse immediately posted about Frye’s dilemma on social media.
By the time Frye got home from the grocery store five minutes later, her phone was inundated with text messages and phone calls from people wanting to help.
Within two hours, the post had gone viral and resulted in various people and groups from all over the province and Canada looking for Marcus’s address to send him boxes of KD spirals. Various local businesses also contacted Frye, such as Powell’s Grocery in Bay Roberts and Atlantic Grocery Distributors.
“The outpouring of support was absolutely amazing,” Frye said. “It blew my mind. … I was hopeful for 10 boxes. I figured that would give us a little time. … Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think we’d get this kind of response.”
The message even reached Kraft Canada officials, who phoned Frye to tell her that while the company only had boxes of organic spirals left, they would network to find some of the regular spirals.
Over the weekend, two women, Susannah Applin and her mother, Verna Applin, from Shoal Cove West (about an hour from St. Anthony) on the Northern Peninsula made the 7 1/2 drive to Shoal Harbour to deliver two cases of KD spirals, which they had collected from various communities in their region, to Marcus.
“We wanted to see him instead of sending them and we’re so glad we made the trip. It was awesome,” said Susannah Applin, a teacher who understands autistic kids’ needs. “He was so happy and had such a big smile on his face when he came out of the house.”
Applin said after she saw the Facebook post, they felt compelled to help. She figured living in a small community, KD spirals would be more available. She said when they spread the word in the area, the response was overwhelming.
“I just can’t tell you how grateful I am to everyone. My faith in people has been restored.” — Connie Frye
“Everybody was just so happy to help out,” Applin said.
Frye said their family received so much help, she figures by the time all the packages arrive from across the country, they will have at least 300 boxes.
The family and Autism Society of NL even had to post to social media, thanking people and informing them that they have received enough at this time.
“With one in 57 people being diagnosed with autism (in this country), there are so many different food sensitivities and sensory issues,” Frye said. “So, when the post went up on social media, everybody had that connection of knowing someone in their circle or their family that has the same struggle.
“I just can’t tell you how grateful I am to everyone. My faith in people has been restored.”
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