Shepherd’s Cupboard

Sharing Recipient Stories

2021 Dufferin County Food for Thought Grant Recipient
$2,000 | Youth & Seniors Services

Food Insecurity is a growing issue at a local and national level. In Canada 1 in 8 households is food insecure, amounting to 4.4 million people. Of that number 1.2 million are children. In Ontario that number is at about 595,000 households. In Shelburne we have seen an increase in monthly usage of approximately 74% since the beginning of COVID-19. We have also had an increase of volunteers as well which is encouraging.

The Shepherd’s Cupboard Food Bank in Shelburne is incredibly grateful to be one of the recipients of the Food for Thought Grants. Our Food Bank provides a 3–5-day emergency food supply for those in need year-round. We have seen an increase in need throughout the COVID-19 Pandemic and are very aware that every donation and volunteer hour counts. As an organization that runs completely on donations, we are so grateful for the support to meet our current and growing needs. The community grant is helping us to provide fresh produce to our clients. We recognize the importance of access to healthy and nutritious fruits and vegetables. For most of our client’s fresh produce is a luxury not a given. Our organization services clients from newborn to seniors throughout northern Dufferin County. During the pandemic we have expanded our programs to include a monthly senior’s market in partnership with the Shelburne Rotary Club and a summer breakfast program in partnership with local schools to help families have access to healthy breakfast foods during the summer. It is a part of our mission to provide our families with healthy eating choices. Grants such as this provide us with the practical means to do this.

I will end with a brief story. Last Christmas Day one of our volunteers actually did an emergency food run for a family. They had called our emergency line saying they didn’t have any food. As volunteers it was a reminder of how important our role in the community is to make sure no one goes hungry and has access to food. And also how key community partners like yourselves are in making a difference one family at a time.

Thank you for your continued support
Deb Wagstaff
Shelburne Food Bank Chair
www.shelburnefoodbank.ca
167 Centre Street, Shelburne, ON. L9V 3LR
shelburnefoodbank@gmail.com.