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GREGG CHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca LOCAL FOOD BANKS ARE IN GOOD SHAPE FOR THE NEW YEAR Bank. “This is our most important need.” Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer can phone 613-636-0666.
The new year has begun and all the food banks in the Prescott-Russell region are reopening their doors and organizing their volunteer schedules to welcome people in need after the Christmas holiday break. “The shelves are pretty full,” said André Perras, president of the Centre d’aide Clarence-Rockland Help Centre, regarding supplies at the food bank. “We could use more space.” The foyer and the back room area of the food bank on Chamberland Boulevard have boxes and cartons of overflow donations of food and non-food items collected during last month’s hamper drive. Perras noted that volunteers also have numerous boxes of out-of-stock toiletries, pet food, and other OPOGPPEJUFNTEPOBUFECZUIFMPDBM8BM.BSU to sort through and shelve. 7JDFQSFTJEFOU/JDPMF(BVMOPUFEUIBUMBTU month the Help Centre was able to provide food drive vouchers for 257 families and also provide 215 children with at least one gift for Christmas. She also noted a trend for the Help Centre’s client list with more families that have more than one child looking for assistance. There is also more demand for infant formula and baby food. #PUI1FSSBTBOE(BVMBHSFFUIBUUIF)FMQ Centre could also use more volunteers, both to work in the food bank and upstairs in the friperie/thrift store which helps provide extra revenue for Help Centre programs. The non-profit group which operates the Bourget Food Bank and La Friperie/Thrift Store is also open for continue donations and more volunteer help. Prescott County Representatives for the non-profit groups operating food banks which serve the townships of East Hawkesbury, Champlain, and the Town of Hawkesbury all report they are in good shape in case anyone needs help. The shelves at the Hawkesbury, L’Orignal, and Vankleek Hill food banks are still well stocked, even after the various Christmas hamper distributions. “We can use more volunteers,” said Fran- çois Petit, president of the Hawkesbury Food
Last month the Hawkesbury Food Bank distributed Christmas hampers to about 400 families, which, Petit noted, is an inc- rease from the previous year’s 300. The increase depleted the shelves a bit but the Hawkesbury Food Bank is still well enough stocked for the start of January, and can use some of its cash donations “thanks to the generosity of the community” to supplement its main supplies. Petit noted that donations of canned fruit or healthy snacks for children for school lunch desserts would still be appreciated. “We’re really blessed in Vankleek Hill” TBJE3FW3PCFSU.BSUJOBCPVUUIFTJUVBUJPO for the Vankleek Hill Food Bank following last month’s Christmas hamper distribution for more than 90 families. 3FW.BSUJODSFEJUFEUIFWPMVOUFFSDPMMFD - tion efforts of the Vankleek Hill Lions Club, fire department, the Alexandria army cadets, and others during the annual Christmas food drive with ensuring ample supplies for the hamper distribution. The Vankleek Hill Food Bank shelves are TUJMMXFMMTUPDLFE UIPVHI3FW.BSUJOOPUFE that more meat to store in the freezers would help as the new year begins. “We’re very lucky to have a lot of vo- lunteers,” said Jacques Lacelle, president of the L’Orignal Food Bank. This past Christmas, the L’Original Food Bank provided Christmas hampers for more than 80 families in the village and surroun- ding areas of Champlain Township. Lacelle said the food bank shelves have adequate stocks for January but all donations are still appreciated. “We could use donations of ground meat,” said Fernand Paquette, president of the Alfred Food Bank. “But all donations are appreciated.” Paquette said the local non-profit group enjoyed “a grand guignolée” last month thanks to the support of local volunteers and community groups, with more than enough donations to fill Christmas hampers for distribution to more than 90 families. He also credited volunteers for their work at the "MGSFEGSJQFSJFUISJGUTUPSFPO.BJO4USFFU
André Perras, président du Centre d’aide Clarence-Rockland Help Centre, est fier du fait que toutes les étagères de la banque alimentaire de Rockland soient presque remplies à ras bord même après la collecte annuelle de paniers de Noël du mois dernier. La banque alimentaire de Rockland est bien approvisionnée au début de la nouvelle année et la seule chose que le groupe sans but lucratif pourrait utiliser, selon M. Perras, ce sont des bénévoles pour aider la banque alimentaire ou le magasin d’aubaines à l’étage. —photos Gregg Chamberlain
which helps provide support revenue through the year for food bank operations. Donations for the food bank are always welcomed at the thrift store or by phone at 613-679-4507. Casselman and Russell Township i.FBUJTUIFQSJODJQBMOFFEIFSF uTBJE Diane Perrault, president of the Casselman Food Bank. “This is something that’s going to go up in price. Also fresh fruits and vege- tables are more expensive at this time of year.” The Casselman Food Bank received a recent donation to help with purchase of another freezer to help store perishable food supplies. One trend, Paquette noted, for the Cassel- man Food Bank’s operation is an increase in the number of seniors coming for help to the outlet. She estimated at least 10 per cent of clients among more than 600 families in the Casselman, St-Albert, Crysler and other areas served are in their 60s or older. “These people have worked hard all their
lives,” she said, “and now they have only their pensions.” “We’re pretty good,” said Jean-François (JHOBD QSFTJEFOUPGUIF#BORVFBMJNFOUBJSF #POT7PJTJOT(PPE/FJHICPVST'PPE#BOL in Embrun. “Our supplies should last three to four months.” (JHOBD DSFEJUFE B iWFSZ TVDDFTTGVMu Christmas food drive last month, bringing in more than $20,000 worth of both food and cash donations to see the food bank through its Christmas hamper distribution among more than 200 families, and also secure its supplies for the start of the new year. The cash donations go into the reserve fund used to help keep shelves stocked over the summer, should the amount of food donations drop. The Riceville Food Bank remains open to donations in the new year after serving its client list during last month’s Christmas hamper distribution.
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Both the President and VP of the Rockland Help Centre agree that the Help Centre could also use more volunteers, both to work in the food bank and upstairs in the friperie/thrift store provide extra revenue for Help Centre programs.
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