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Area food banks deal with constant need
producers have donated their favourite food items to the HCFB. Through the pro- vincial food bank association, the HCFB’s stores have been bolstered by donations of meat and pizza. “That is pretty popular,” remarked Charlebois. Local food banks reflect a national trend – about 900,000 Canadians turn to food banks each month. The people helped include families with children, employed people whose wages are not sufficient to cover basic living es- sentials, individuals on social assistance, and Canadians living on a fixed income, including people with disabilities and se- niors. About 36 per cent of those turning to food banks are children and youth. Last year, 50 per cent of food banks needed to cut back on the amount of food provided to each household. .0ŏ * ŏ The Dalkeith Historical Society is spon- soring two exhibits at the Dalkeith Library until May 31. One exhibition features art by children from Laggan Public School while another underlines the 75 th anniversary of the start of World War II compiled from lo- cal books and sources. The exhibits can be viewed during library hours, Tuesday and Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wednes- day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
RICHARD MAHONEY richard.mahoney@eap.on.ca
VANKLEEK HILL | While support for food banks tends to spike at Christmas time, for many area residents, hunger is a year- round reality. That is why an unexpected contribution from the Prescott County Dairy Producers Committee is so much appreciated. Last week, the committee donated milk to the Vankleek Hill, Alfred, Riceville, Hawkesbury and L’Orignal food banks. “We realize the need for nutritious food products at the food banks and families should have access to milk and all the heal- thy benefits it provides,” said Kelley Allen when he and other committee members donated 80 litres of milk to the Vankleek Hill food bank last week. The committee delivered 20 bags of milk to each of the Vankleek Hill, Alfred and Rice- ville food banks. “We intend to provide the equivalent of an extra two 4-litre bags to all five food banks in the county, including Hawkesbury and L’Orignal,” said Allen. The Vankleek Hill organization helps out between 80 and 100 families on a regular basis, related Irene Howes, who has run the food bank with her husband, Lloyd, for the past seven years. “The demand goes up and down,” said Irene Howes. The reason why people rely on help from the food bank is simple. “They can’t make ends meet,” she
Photo Richard Mahoney
The Prescott County Dairy Producers Committee has made a contribution of milk to area food banks, including the Vankleek Hill organization. Attending the presentation at theVankleek Hill food bank were food bank coordinators Lloyd and Irene Howes, committee representatives Marc Raynaud, Laurier Lafrance and Terry Heinzle, Rev. Robert Martin, of the food bank, and committee member Kelley Allen.
about 400 files, related president Jeanne Charlebois. “A file can represent more than one person,” she noted. Because of the constant demand and limited resources, the Hawkesbury Central Food Bank has been obliged to reduce the amount of food it provides to clients. “People understand why we have to do it,” she added. Other farm groups have also been gene- rous, she observed, recounting that egg
commented. The group serves people in a wide area that includes communities such as St-Eu- gène, St-Bernardin, Alfred, Ste-Anne-de- Prescott and Dalkeith. Revenues from the second-hand store in town help pay the bills for the food bank, which is supported by local congregations, organizations and businesses. In Hawkesbury, the food bank maintains
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