The Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre cleared the air with county council following concerns raised by Huron East Mayor Bernie MacLellan’s over comments published in an area newspaper about how the centre spends their money.
The publication states the mayor’s concerns grew when he learned the centre charges area food banks for the food, and he questioned whether the $66,000 annual funding the DC receive from the county went to actually buying food or if it went elsewhere like covering salaries.
The answer is buying food. HCFDC Executive Director Mary Ellen Zielman debunked a growing concern that they monetize their deliveries.
In 2015 their milk and eggs programed kicked off with monthly deliveries to the food banks.
But since then the trips have been made bi-monthly because of the need, so the food banks suggested they chip in to cover some of the additional costs for the extra milk, eggs, and deliveries.
Zielman says it doesn’t cover all of the costs and they’re not in a business of making money. They spend most of their time trying to make the donations they get go a long way.
Following the meeting Zielman says MacLellan and the rest of council had their minds put at ease about how their donation, and the others the DC get, are spent.
