A great Rotary meeting this week at the Caring Cupboard.  This organization is run entirely by volunteers, with no government funding, but 45 volunteers and many generous people who donate food and funds.

Their new location at 43 Kent St. S. provides ample room for food shelving, sorting, and storage.  They expect to soon install a walk-in freezer and walk-in cooler in order that they can better handle fresh produce. Local farmers recently have been allowed to donate produce and receive a tax receipt for 50% of the retail value.

Simcoe’s Caring Cupboard is the largest of 5 food banks in Norfolk County, and the only one that has charitable status.  They service 230 local households, with 300 adults and 125 children, averaging visits by 75 households weekly. Patrons are closely screened and must provide valid ID as well as proof of household income. Most patrons are on a fixed income as seniors, social assistance recipients or on a disability pension, with monthly incomes of less than $1000, and often far less.

Shown in the photo are super volunteers and hosts Al Martens, Kim Scoyne & Linda Peters. We’re honoured that Kim and Linda are also members of Rotary Club of Norfolk Sunrise.

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Simcoe’s Caring Cupboard is a member of the Ontario Food Alliance of Food Banks (FOB), and weekly travels to Kitchener to bring back a couple of large skids of food that is distributed to Food Banks across Ontario. The FOB requires that all members use the common on-line database to ensure that patrons are unable to double-dip by accessing more than one food bank. Volunteers also pick up weekly the food donated through local grocery retailers.  Local businesses, churches, clubs, and other groups and individuals have been very generous this winter when heating costs have been high.


 
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