Located less than an hour from Windsor, the small town of Wheatley has faced more than its share of tough times in recent years. On top of the COVID-19 pandemic, the village was rocked by a powerful explosion in August of 2021 that injured 20 people and damaged or destroyed several buildings. The resulting evacuation of the area surrounding the explosion only added to the challenges faced by the community. One of the buildings that had to be evacuated housed the community’s foodbank.
The Wheatley Area Food Bank - a joint effort of local churches - began in 1990, to address the growing concern of local food insecurity. At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, they began looking at ways to increase their support for those in need. They considered offering clothing, household goods, and possibly even a thrift store. In the wake of the explosion, the priority quickly shifted to finding a new space.
The Village Resource Centre was created and found a new location with several offices. It housed the food bank and became a hub of post-explosion activity. Social services took over one office to help evacuees with paperwork. Large trailers outside stored food, clothing, and household goods that evacuees would need. Evacuated community groups such as the Lions Club, the Legion, and a chapter of Narcotics Anonymous also used the space for meetings.
Shortly thereafter, the model of the foodbank changed. Rather than pre-packaged boxes for community members in need, the Village Pantry (a division of the Village Resource Centre) moved to a new model that gave members the equivalent value of a box in the form of an allowance that they could spend on food that they picked out themselves. “Allowing our community members to get the food they prefer, in a dignified way, is very important to us,” commented Susan Fulmer, founder of the Village Resource Centre.
The model changed yet again when they had a mobile fresh produce market come to their parking lot in 2022. The need for access to fresh, healthy food for everyone in the community became clear, since Wheatley did not have its own grocery store. The Harvest Market, as it is known, is now hosted weekly inside the Village Pantry. The way the food pantry runs is unique in that the general public is encouraged to come in and shop for their groceries as well. The proceeds from that are fed back into the system to support those in need.
In April of 2024, the Village Resource Centre relocated into a space almost four times the size, allowing them to expand to meet growing demand. Through fundraising, they were able to add offices, and they hope to install a commercial kitchen in the near future. The pantry has also grown. Through the Kindred Charitable Fund, the Village Resource Centre was able to purchase additional shelves, that have added to the grocery store feel of the space.
“Now we are able to have a lot more variety on the shelves, which appeals to both the people doing their regular shopping, as well as those who are receiving the allowance,” commented Susan. “It’s a small thing, but it helps.”
The Village Resource Centre is filling many needs in Wheatley. It’s providing access to fresh, wholesome food for those who are struggling to put food on the table, and also to those who can afford groceries, but don’t want to travel 15 minutes by car to Leamington to shop. In addition, many community groups are supported through their generous gift of space. The Kindred Credit Union Charitable Fund is pleased to have played a small part in that. Sometimes, especially during tough times, it’s the small things that make the biggest impact.