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Sometimes, making a bigger difference starts with making a little more room.
At Milverton Christian Fellowship (MCF), that has meant creating a larger, better-equipped home for Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. The expanded space gives volunteers more room to organize donations and, importantly, allows the food bank to offer more fresh and frozen foods to neighbours experiencing food insecurity.
With support from a Kindred Charitable Fund grant, MCF expanded the space used by Loaves and Fishes and purchased new equipment, including convertible refrigerator/freezer units, shelving, lockable cabinets, a table, and a cart. They may seem like simple purchases, but together they’re changing what the food bank can provide.
Loaves and Fishes serves the Milverton area and was originally located in the back of a downtown store. Several years ago, the food bank moved into Milverton Christian Fellowship, where it operates independently while receiving practical support from the church.
“In a smaller community such as Milverton, accessing additional supports can also be challenging,” says Brenda Leis, a volunteer with Loaves and Fishes. “Services that may be readily available in larger urban centres aren't necessarily close at hand, making local volunteers especially important.” About 20 volunteers help keep Loaves and Fishes running — a significant community effort for a small town.
In its earlier days, the food bank primarily distributed non-perishable foods collected through food drives and community donations. Without adequate refrigeration and freezer capacity, however, there were limits to what volunteers could safely store and distribute. The new equipment has changed that.
The refrigerator/freezer units can be switched between refrigeration and freezing depending on what donations are available. That means Loaves and Fishes can now offer produce and frozen foods in addition to the canned goods, soups, crackers and other staples it has traditionally provided. More shelving and storage space have also made it easier for volunteers to keep donations organized and monitor best-before dates so that older products are distributed first.
Loaves and Fishes currently serves approximately 40 to 50 households and opens twice a month. Rather than receiving a pre-packed hamper, visitors can select foods that work for their household. Depending on availability, that might include canned fruits and vegetables, meat, soups, crackers and fresh produce, along with other household necessities. Families also receive a grocery store gift card once each month. In addition, the food bank receives diapers and baby formula through Stratford House of Blessing, helping families manage the significant cost of these necessities.
Like food banks across Ontario, Loaves and Fishes has seen demand increase in recent years. Volunteers are also seeing a shift in who is seeking support, including more people who are working but still finding it difficult to make ends meet. For some households, after rent and other expenses are paid, there simply isn't enough left for food and other essentials.
“We appreciated that grant very much,” says Rob Leis, an elder and member of the leadership team at Milverton Christian Fellowship. “It's good what Kindred is doing, getting involved in local communities.”
At Kindred, strengthening food security is one of the ways we work toward more peaceful, just and prosperous communities. Sometimes that means supporting programs that put food directly on the table. Other times, it means investing in the practical tools and infrastructure that help community organizations serve their neighbours more effectively.