
We would especially like to acknowledge Hopewell Rocks for hosting Albert County Appreciation Days on May 24 and September 20. On those days, visitors to the park were encouraged to donate cash or non-perishable food items to Shepody Food Bank in lieu of the regular admission fees. It was a win-win situation for all; local residents and tourists from far and wide were able to enjoy this world-class natural wonder, and help feed the hungry as well. The two combined events brought in over 3000 lbs. of food, and generated enough funds to cover a significant portion of our annual operating expenses. So again, a huge Thank You to Hopewell Rocks, and to all those who came out in support of Shepody Food Bank.
Another significant milestone was the receipt of a “Mission: Kitchen – Kids” grant from Food Banks Canada and the RBC Foundation. This grant subsidized some new kitchen equipment at Riverside Consolidated School, including a much-needed new stove, shelving, small appliances, pots, pans, knives and other kitchen necessities. The Kids in the Kitchen program, coordinated by Lynne Greenblatt, is a partnership between Shepody Food Bank, Foods of the Fundy Valley and Riverside Consolidated School. This year, we held a total of 10 sessions at the school, involving each of the grades. Students came down to the cafeteria and worked with volunteers to prepare and cook various dishes from scratch. We focused on healthy recipes, using local ingredients whenever possible. Some of the dishes prepared included pizza, applesauce, harvest soup, kale chips, breadsticks, chicken and veggie stir-fry and grilled veggie kabobs. We believe we made considerable progress toward our goal of showing kids that cooking and eating healthy can be easy and fun. Thank you to our volunteers, Beulah Morrissey and Ethel Butland, and to the wonderful kids, faculty and staff at Riverside Consolidated School. Most of all, we wish to give sincere thanks to Food Banks Canada and the RBC Foundation for their generous support.
Last, but certainly not least, we would like to thank the 47 volunteers this year who have collectively given 1290 hours of their time and efforts to unload the delivery truck, stock and re-stock the shelves, keep the facilities in order, pack grocery boxes, and do countless of other tasks necessary for us to continue to serve our clients with respect and dignity. Shepody Food Bank could not exist without them. Special thanks go to Janet Hoar, Irma Vandenburg and Golda Elderkin – they keep the place running.
Volunteers are always welcome, regardless of how much or how little time you can commit. Volunteers are generally needed on Monday mornings from 9AM to 11AM to clean, reorganize and restock shelves; Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 11AM to unload the delivery truck and stow groceries; and Wednesday afternoons from 1PM - 3PM to pack grocery boxes for clients. If you would like to volunteer, please send e-mail to [email protected].
Donations are also always welcome. Donations of non-perishable food items may be brought to the food bank at 8 Forestdale Road, Riverside-Albert, on Monday or Wednesday mornings from 9:30AM to 10:30AM. We can also arrange for other drop-off points and times, given enough notice. Please e-mail [email protected].
Gifts of cash or cheque are especially appreciated, as this allows us to purchase perishable food items such as meats, milk and eggs, as well as staples such as flour, sugar, rice, and other high-demand items. Cheques may be made out to Shepody Food Bank and mailed to: Shepody Food Bank, P.O. Box 2155, Riverside-Albert, NB E4H 3Y7.
For more information, please visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/TheShepodyFoodBank/.
The Board of Directors of the Shepody Food Bank would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy New Year.