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Orangeville Food Bank close to securing a new, larger home

April 9, 2020   ·   0 Comments

By Mike Baker

Staff and volunteers at the Orangeville Food Bank can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. 

Following a years-long search for a new, more size-appropriate home, Orangeville Food Bank President Trevor Lewis revealed on Monday (April 6) that the organization is close to purchasing a property near its existing facility on Centennial Road.

“We realized that our building for the last several years was simply not large enough for our needs, and in 2019 we initiated the process to find a more suitable location. The Board, and Executive Director Heather Hayes worked with local realtors and ultimately found a building close to our current location, and certainly more ideally suited for our purpose,” Mr. Lewis said. “After securing financing, we are in the process of purchasing the property and are currently working with several partners to develop a design and begin renovations.”

So, what does this mean for the local food bank? According to Mr. Lewis, it will enable those who help out at the facility to improve the way they deliver services to the community, while also working to reduce the organization’s operating expenses. 

The important thing, Mr. Lewis noted, is what this particular news means for clients of the food bank. 

“It means that every client will continue to be able to access nutritious food in a supportive and dignified environment, and we will be able to store more of it safely and meet the increased demand,” Mr. Lewis said. 

Back in February, Ms. Hayes informed the Citizen that visits to the local food bank were up substantially from the same time in 2019. She estimated the organization was seeing around 700 people per month – with a high percentage of those visitors being seniors. Of course, since the COVID-19 crisis struck last month, those numbers have grown even more. 

With that in mind, the Orangeville Food Bank has partnered with several other local entities to form Dufferin Food Share. The program will see organizations such as the Salvation Army, St. Mark’s Anglican Church, the Café at the Centre, Westminster United Church, the Children’s Foundation of Guelph Wellington, the Society of St. Vincent de Paul and both the Orangeville and Grand Valley food banks come together to help meet the needs of the community. 

“The global response to the COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on every facet of our nation, and we at the Orangeville Food Bank are focused on meeting the needs of our local community today, while preparing to continue to care for our community in the future,” Mr. Lewis said. “In the coming weeks and months, we will share more information about (our relocation), but for now we will, along with our Dufferin Food Share partners, continue to be a neighbour helping neighbours.”

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