Grand Bend Community Food Pantry Opens to Help Locals in Need
On October 10th Grand Bend is celebrating the opening of its First Food Pantry, created to help local individuals and families struggling with food insecurity.
Community Wellness Program Coordinator at Huron Shores United Church, Christine Wilde, told myFM a little background on how the Food Pantry came to be.
In Ontario, nearly one in five households faces challenges getting enough food, impacting around 2.8 million people, including nearly 700,000 children. Food banks in the province were visited more than 4.3 million times last year, showing a 42% increase over the past three years.
Huron Shores United Church started the Help the Hungry Program a few years ago to provide emergency food support. Volunteers have been preparing and delivering frozen meals, collecting non-perishable food and personal items, and referring people to local food banks and community health centers. They also raised money to support food relief programs and buy grocery vouchers for emergencies.
In 2023, the program grew into a community effort to establish a permanent food pantry in Grand Bend. A shed was set up on the church property and renovated with materials and labor donated by volunteers and local building supply companies. Now, it is a fully accessible, year-round resource offering fresh fruits and vegetables, frozen foods like meat and ready-made meals, eggs, milk, personal hygiene items, baby supplies, and more.
A grant from the Sunset Community Foundation helped buy a refrigerator and freezer for the pantry. The Grand Bend Rotary Club donated $10,000 to cover the cost of the shed, and two fundraising dinners held with the Grand Bend Legion provided further support. Partnerships with local businesses, social service agencies, and the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre also played a crucial role in making the pantry a reality.
The pantry will rely on continued community support in the future. Donations of any size are welcome, and tax receipts will be issued for donations over $25. The Grand Bend community is showing its strength by coming together to help those in need.
The Grand Bend Community Food Pantry will officially launch on Thursday, October 10, at 11 a.m. at Grand Bend Place, located at 25 Main Street in Grand Bend.
Written by: K. Milhomens
