West Hants food bank receives funding boost to stay open

February 3, 2024

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WINDSOR, N.S. — With the soaring cost of living resulting in more and more people turning to food banks for assistance, increased funding and donations are vital for keeping the doors open.

Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, said officials have been feeling the financial pinch in recent years and are grateful for some recent funding that was approved.

“For 50 years, the food bank really hasn’t been one to ask for help,” said Hingley.

“It’s a little odd that we have to ask for help but given how many people that we help within our community, we … want to make sure that we are able to stay open and be there for our community as much as we can.”

On Jan. 23, West Hants council voted to help the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank by way of a monthly financial donation for the coming fiscal year.

“It’s hard-working families who are relying on it now just to make ends meet,” Mayor Abraham Zebian said in an interview.

Provincial politicians listen intently as Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, describes the community’s growing need for assistance. Pictured are, from left, Rafah DiCostanzo (MLA for Clayton Park West), Braedon Clark (MLA for Bedford South), Hingley, and Zach Churchill, the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Zebian, who brought forward the idea to council, said he sees the food bank as an integral part of the municipality’s infrastructure as it helps citizens.

“Definitely council values the work that they do – all three food banks here in our region, and they all work very synergistically together,” he said.

In his report to council, Zebian suggested the municipality fund the Windsor food bank $3,700 per month, beginning March 1, and lasting one year to cover operating costs.

“In recent years, the demands on the food bank have risen exponentially as inflation continues to squeeze residents in West Hants. More families are now having to rely on the food bank to help feed themselves, creating funding issues,” he wrote in the report.

“Volunteers have had to think creatively, looking for solutions to make each dollar stretch further. Many times, they have had to substitute essential products for other items because of funding shortfalls.”

Zebian said the pressures on the volunteer-based organization have mounted “to a point where they believe they will not be able to operate beyond March 2024, leaving many within our communities hungry who rely on the help and generosity of the food bank.”

Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, left, discusses food insecurity with Liberal leader Zach Churchill, Cole Harbour MLA Tony Ince and Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, left, discusses food insecurity with Liberal leader Zach Churchill, Cole Harbour MLA Tony Ince and Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Aid appreciated

Hingley said the financial aid from the municipality helps alleviate a lot of stress on the volunteer-run group.

“It means we can stay open,” Hingley said of the municipal contribution.

She said the food bank had enough funds to cover rent and operating expenses for another couple of months. After that, she said officials didn’t know what they were going to do.

“We have seen a decline in monetary donations, and in all donations, but we completely understand. It has been a hard few years for a lot of people,” she said.

“Having the municipality’s support just takes that stress off of us to know that OK, we have a place for another year.”

Hingley said they are actively seeking a new spot to house the food bank. She said ideally it would be inside a municipally owned building to help cut down on expenses.

“We’re definitely very thrilled to have the support of the municipality behind us,” said Hingley.

The mayor said the municipality helped the Hantsport and Area Food Bank move into a municipal building when the new fire station was being built a few years ago. He said that has helped strengthen the organization and hopes something similar can occur in Windsor.

“We’re trying to do the same thing with the Windsor food bank. Just the location that we had our eye on just posed a lot of investment and it’s just going to need a little bit more time to look at and do correctly,” he said.

“Everything can be done correctly if you give it the amount of time that it needs.”

Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, shares a laugh with Liberal leader Zach Churchill and Cole Harbour MLA Tony Ince while the group of politicians were touring the facility on Jan. 31. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, shares a laugh with Liberal leader Zach Churchill and Cole Harbour MLA Tony Ince while the group of politicians were touring the facility on Jan. 31. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Needs continue to rise

Hingley said the need for its services remains steady, noting officials are still welcoming new clients weekly.

While the majority of clients come once every six weeks as the food bank is considered a stop-gap measure between paycheques, Hingley said they do make some exceptions.

She said on average the volunteers fill 30 to 35 orders every Tuesday and Thursday; which equates to 200-plus people each order day.

Despite struggles, Hingley said the community is still being generous. For instance, Mud Creek Rotary Club recently donated $5,000, and Schoolhouse Brewery held a fundraiser that will boost coffers by about $1,300, she said.

Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, discusses food expiration dates — and how they products are good for six months to a year past the best before date — with Zach Churchill, the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and Tony Ince, the MLA for Cole Harbour. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Ashley Hingley, the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank co-ordinator, discusses food expiration dates — and how they products are good for six months to a year past the best before date — with Zach Churchill, the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party and Tony Ince, the MLA for Cole Harbour. – Carole Morris-Underhill

“Even though people are struggling, they’ll bring in a couple cans of soup or bring in $5,” she said.

“When they say it’s not much, I always say, ‘we didn’t have the can of soup, now we do.’ Every little bit counts.”

Hingley said while food bank officials don’t know what the future holds, they’re optimistic brighter days are ahead.

“Thank you to everybody who has continued to help the food bank to stay open and hopefully it gets better from here,” she said.

Tony Ince, the Liberal MLA for Cole Harbour, left, and Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election, took a tour of the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank to get a better understanding of food insecurity in the region. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Tony Ince, the Liberal MLA for Cole Harbour, left, and Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election, took a tour of the Matthew 25 Windsor and District Food Bank to get a better understanding of food insecurity in the region. – Carole Morris-Underhill

Liberal visit

Zach Churchill, the leader of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party, and fellow MLAs Braedon Clark (Bedford South), Rafah DiCostanzo (Clayton Park West) and Tony Ince (Cole Harbour), as well as Hants West Liberal candidate Brian Casey, took a tour of the facility Jan. 31.

“We know with the affordability issue across the province, it’s really affecting food security,” said Churchill.

He said they wanted to hear directly from the people and groups affected the most by the rising cost of living to better understand the challenges that they face. They’re using this information to see how the government can make lives easier. He noted he’s argued against cutbacks made by Tim Houston’s government, including to the heating assistance rebate program and the heating program through the Salvation Army.

“So we’re using this information to explain to the Houston government why these cuts are hurting people and affecting people in really consequential and negative ways,” said Churchill.

Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election, listens as Ashley Hingley outlines the local food bank operations. - Carole Morris-Underhill — Brian Casey, the Hants West Liberal candidate for the next provincial election, listens as Ashley Hingley outlines the local food bank operations. – Carole Morris-Underhill

“You can’t freeze income assistance for two years in a row while the cost of everything is going up and think it’s not going to have an impact on the lives of people and their ability to get food on the table for themselves and their kids.”

Churchill praised the work that volunteers throughout the province have been doing to help others.

“It’s really impressive. Every food bank, every community organization across the province that is dedicating themselves to supporting people in need is so inspiring,” said Churchill.

“You’ve got a group of dedicated volunteers who put their heart and soul into this and do help people make ends meet and help people get by during really challenging times.”

Later that evening, Churchill held a town hall meeting in Windsor to further discuss the affordability crisis.

Did you know?

There are three food banks operating in West Hants. They are located in Hantsport, Windsor and at the Hants Shore Community Health Clinic in Kempt Shore.