Page 8 - News On 7 June 2021

100+ WOMEN WHO CARE QUINTE HELPING TO MAKE FOOD BANK MORE ACCESSIBLE
Published by: InQuinte.ca News

The Helping Hands Food Bank in Madoc is going to be more accessible to those in need thanks to a donation from 100+ Women
Who Care Quinte. The philanthropic group that has already donated nearly $240,000 to community charities came back from a
year hiatus Wednesday night because they knew their community needed their support more now than ever before.
There were 80 women gathered online on a virtual Zoom call and the majority voted to donate to the Central Hastings Support
Network in Madoc that operates the foodbank and Central Hastings Transit. “We are just blown away,” said Sally Gale,
executive director following the vote. “There are so many needing organizations that get nominated…how do you choose? We
are happy that people chose us.” The three nominated charities that presented were The Central Hastings Support Network,
The Children’s Safety Village and Volunteer and Information Quinte. Once representatives from each charity provided
information about their initiatives, the members made an informed vote.

The Central Hastings Support Network offers food, transportation and income tax services
to those suffering from a lack of resources, poverty, age, disability, or a vulnerability that
impedes their participation in the greater community. Central Hastings Transit offers on-
demand rides to Belleville for employment and medical appointments seven days a week.
They assist residents in Stirling, Tweed, Madoc and Marmora and Lake.
During her presentation, Gale said it would be a huge benefit to the families they serve to
have an accessible entrance way, a more open concept reception area with finished walls,
ceiling and flooring. Gale said they need to get rid of the steps into the food bank which will
make a world of difference to clients and volunteers because they will not have to negotiate
them while carrying large parcels of food through a labyrinth of hallways and doors.

“What a huge benefit to our staff and volunteers to have an accessible entrance to relieve the strain of carrying food boxes out
to a client,” she said. On food truck delivery days when they receive a truck load of food from Kawartha Food Share, Gale said
an accessible entrance would make it much easier on staff and volunteers unloading the food. The funding will also make the
foodbank a brighter and happier place for people to be, she added.
“It is never someone’s best day when they have to come to the foodbank, so we just want to make the surroundings a bit
brighter and make that one part of brightening up their visit for them, she said.” Like many other agencies, the pandemic has
hit the agency hard with the inability to hold fundraisers. She said their donors and the local community have stepped up to the
plate to support the network as it relies on its annual fashion show art show for key funding.
They have also had to reduce many of their volunteers for safety reasons which she said has put a lot of pressure on the
members at the foodbank. “Right now, clients are not choosing their own food from the shelves in the foodbank, so we are
spending a lot of time going through a list with them to make sure they still get what they want and what they need from the
supplies that we have.” A total of how much will be donated to the Central Hastings Support Network will be released later. The
next meeting is September 8, 2021.

Countree Folk Canada
Did You Know that Countree Folk Canada located in
Marmora is now a "Doohers Bakery Depot". They are
looking for feedback on what items you would like to
see them carry ( what kind of Donuts, Pie's, Bread etc! )
Fresh bake goods arrive first thing Friday mornings . It
will be first come first serve! Any cakes or specialty
items will have to be pre-ordered. To place your orders
you can email directly - countreefolk01@gmail.com or
call 905-914-5649.