Community coming together for food bank
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This article was published 09/06/2020 (1087 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
A key organizer of a local, church-based food bank is grateful for how the community has come together for the cause — including several angels.
Joan Boone is the co-ordinator of the long-running food bank at St. Mary’s Road United Church, which is located at 613 St. Mary’s Rd. In an email to The Lance, Boone highlighted a number of good news stories that have come out of the food bank in recent weeks, and the contributions of community members.
“We are so fortunate to have an anonymous food bank angel,” Boone said. “He comes every week and supplements our food bank with food and other essential items like toilet paper and paper towels, as well as hand sanitizer for all volunteers and clients.”
As well, Monique Chartier-Kroeker has been making “excellent face masks to help raise funds for our food bank.” Boone said Chartier-Kroeker accepts monetary donations for the masks, while her husband, Chuck, delivers them.
Also, jewelry designer and creator Hilary Druxman “chose to help us out by making and selling beautiful pause necklaces” and she made a large monetary donation to the food bank based on the sale of the items.
Boone is also grateful to the folks at the Safeway on Alpine Avenue, who called to offer gift certificates “so we could purchase extra food to help supplement our clients with extra groceries over and above what Harvest was able to provide Also, Safeway offers us their day-old bread and pastry items every week throughout the year, which we really appreciate.”
On top of this, Boone said volunteers who help out at the food bank have twice been treated to homemade lunches: “Both ladies just volunteered to bring us a nice lunch as a surprise and it was very well received.” As well, the Subway located in Dominion Centre in St. Boniface also donated a free lunch one week.
And not least, the church’s congregation has also continued to be a strong support system throughout the pandemic.
“Our church family has been by our side week after week with donations of food and cash to make sure we never have to turn away any client because we didn’t have enough to offer. We have also had donations at the door each Wednesday when we run our food bank from folks in our neighbourhood and as far south as our sister church, United Church in Meadowood,” Boone said.
She added that Dr. Jonathan Wong, one of the musical directors at the church, is producing a CD titled Connectivity, which will be available soon. All funds raised will benefit the food bank.
Anyone wishing to help out can email joanboone@shaw.ca or call the church at 204-257-0678.
Simon Fuller
Community Journalist
Simon Fuller is a reporter/photographer for the Free Press Community Review. Email him at simon.fuller@canstarnews.com or call him at 204-697-7111.