PORT HAWKESBURY: Providing a much-needed service to the community for over 40 years, the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society is nearing completion on a major renovation.
In cooperation with the Town of Port Hawkesbury along with funding from the Government of Canada, these improvements will make the building more accessible and will provide their clients a more comfortable experience.
These repairs, renovations and equipment improvements will also reduce the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank’s carbon footprint.
“We believe all community organizations need to do their part in reducing their carbon footprint,” Kevin MacEachern, president of the foodbank highlighted. “No matter their size.”
The new walk-in cooler and freezer will allow the Food Bank Society to retire old inefficient appliances and allow them to store more fresh and frozen products.
“Many times, in the past we had to rely on the generosity of other organizations, businesses, and the town to store our fresh or frozen food donations,” MacEachern said. “These new appliances should provide the capacity needed to store everything at the food bank. These improvements will reduce our power cost and cutback on the fuel required to transport the food to and from the other locations in town.”
According to the foodbank, donations, funding and the continued operation of the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank wouldn’t be possible without the ongoing support of the Town of Port Hawkesbury – taking a special moment to thank Mayor Brenda Chisholm-Beaton, council, and town staff, especially Terry Doyle and Gordie Snook.
“The Port Hawkesbury Food Bank is a wonderful example of community support. We are so grateful for the amazing people we have in the Strait Area,” MacEachern said. “We are grateful for their donations of food and money, but these wonderful donations are not enough to cover the required repairs, renovations, and equipment improvements.”
On May 29, the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society welcomed Sheldon MacDonald, owner of Northumberland Heating and Air Conditioning and Daikin, as he presented a $6,000 donation.
“We want to thank the residents of the Quad Counties for supporting us and trusting the quality workmanship of the Daikin products,” MacDonald said. “Only with their support could we have been able to make this donation.”
Additionally, the Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society expressed their gratitude to Cape Breton-Canso MP Mike Kelloway for his work on securing $144,438 in funding thru the Canada Community Revitalization Fund.
“The Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society knows our volunteers are the backbone of the organization. Without them there wouldn’t be a Port Hawkesbury foodbank,” MacEachern said. “We are always looking for volunteers as we believe many hands make light work. If you would like to volunteer at the Food Bank, please feel free to contact us.”
The Port Hawkesbury Food Bank Society is a registered charity; people looking to make a monetary donation to the foodbank, can send money transfers to porthawkesburyfoodbank@gmail.com. Individuals who would require a tax receipt, are asked to include their mailing address with their transfer.
Anyone wishing to mail a donation, they are asked to send it to 514A Granville Street, Port Hawkesbury, NS, B9A 2M9.