But instead of cutting the ribbon, Chairman Kevin Reiter broke bread as a sign that the new building was open for business.
According to Reiter, the building is now more user friendly.
“The old place was so small and had so many small rooms that it was really hard to make the hampers. With this new building we’ll be able to do the same job with fewer volunteers.”
The one big storage area will make it easier for volunteers to make up hampers for clients and especially with many volunteers being past the age of retirement, this will make it easier on them, says Reiter.
This will also make it easier for the 90 families, around 120 adults and 115 children, that use the food bank every month.
Getting the building up took a lot of planning with location industries who were willing to help get the building off the ground.
The old building was fully demolished at the beginning of June.
Reiter says Lynn Wourms was a big help in the development of the new building.
“He went through the whole thing and asked us what kind of building we wanted and we told him. And he went ahead and priced everything out.”
The building would not have been possible without endowments from both Cecilia Annie Poole and John and Carollyn Daschner who both left funds in their wills specifically for a new building.
“Without that money, this Food Bank would never have been built. I can’t say it enough times, their contribution to this...was just truly amazing,” says Reiter.
Over the years there has been an increase in new families coming from outside of Canada. Usually they just need help for a month to help them settle in their new area.
Reiter says he is more than happy to help them.
Donations are always needed for the Food Bank, from stews and canned tomatoes to pasta and sauces.
Donations can be made at Co-op, Extra Foods, and Sobeys.
Money donations can also be very helpful to the Food Bank, says Reiter.
“Lots of times we’ll get a whole bunch of soup but we don’t get any stew. Some people donate money and then we can go buy the stew we need.”
If items like soap and toothpaste are donated, Reiter says they will hand them out as well.
