New CEO at Harvest Manitoba’s helm

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/09/2021 (1634 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Harvest Manitoba’s new leader says he’s ready to help amid the global pandemic and an increased need for support from food banks.

Vince Barletta will take the reins of president and chief executive officer, beginning Sept. 20. He’s been president and CEO of the St. Boniface Hospital Foundation for the last four years, navigating the health-care charity’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When I saw there was an opportunity, that Harvest Manitoba was looking for a new leader… to me, it just seemed like a fabulous opportunity to work with an organization that has such a powerful mission,” Barletta said.

He’ll be commandeering a charity that encompasses more than 325 food banks and agencies. There are thousands of volunteers and staff.

“The next number of months, for me, (are) going to be about listening and learning,” said Barletta, 43.

He has a lengthy history of leadership roles in politics and business, including heading an investment attraction initiative for Economic Development Winnipeg. Prior to that, he was a community and economic development director for the province, and a two-term city councillor for Brandon.

Barletta is “honoured and excited” to be joining Harvest Manitoba. “It’s an organization that, to me, really embodies the generosity of our community and our province.”

Currently, Harvest is seeing increased numbers of clients. About 80,000 Manitobans receive food support every month; pre-pandemic, the average was closer to 60,000.

Barletta offered a rosy view to stepping into his new role during the challenging time, saying these “will be interesting months ahead” but he looks forward to the future.

“Many of our clients are working and just still need that extra help,” said Marilyn McLaren, Harvest Manitoba board chairwoman. “I don’t think (the numbers are) going to start decreasing any time soon.”

Food donations dried up at the beginning of the pandemic, but they’ve rebounded to near pre-pandemic levels, McLaren said. The charity collects 11 million pounds of food annually.

Keren Taylor-Hughes, the former CEO, helped create a breakfast program for schools with modest income families.

Barletta and McLaren highlighted a need for donations for Harvest Manitoba’s school programs — money and food are accepted. Forty-six per cent of the food bank’s recipients are children. Volunteers are still below pre-pandemic levels, too.

“It’s coming back, but it could certainly come back more,” McLaren said. “It would be great to have more (volunteers)… in the door.”

gabrielle.piche@freepress.mb.ca