Unfortunately, we’re all too familiar with the fact that many Ontarians rely on food banks. In fact, Southwestern Public Health reports that 19.2% of their population are living in food insecure households. This health unit covers Oxford and Elgin Counties and has the added complication that many of the folks in this area are living in a rural setting.
In rural communities, ensuring that much needed food relief gets to those who need it can be difficult. Often community members in need don’t have access to a vehicle, or can’t afford the gasoline required to operate the vehicle. The Corner Cupboard, a food bank operated by East Elgin Community Assistance Program, is trying to help.
“We’re just trying to remove a hurdle for people,” states Penny Hilliker, Manager of the Corner Cupboard. “We’ve had people tell us that they might have enough gas to get to us, but they won’t have enough to make it back home.”
Located in Aylmer, and serving the nearby communities, The Corner Cupboard was approached by the Vienna Lions Club. The Club purchased a community centre and wanted to maximize its use. They volunteered to be a food hub in the village for food distribution for Corner Cupboard clients. Vienna is located about twenty minutes from Aylmer, just far enough to make it difficult to access their services.
The idea is simple: Community members do an online pre-order, allowing them some choice over the items they receive. The food bundles are packaged up by volunteers and then delivered to the Vienna Lions Club the next day, and usually two vehicles are required – both driven by volunteers. From there, community members can come to pick up their groceries.
The program is currently serving eight local families, including eight school-aged children and four teenagers.
“The families are so grateful, now many are within walking distance to get what they need,” adds Penny.
A Kindred Charitable Fund grant went to purchase a larger refrigerator along with cooler bags that are needed to hold the grocery orders. Through our work to address hunger in all of our diverse communities, we know that the process of physically connecting people and food, is a critical step. Kindred is pleased to be a part of the solution that the Corner Cupboard has found to bring much needed food support to those in need.