A letter to Hastings County is imploring them to reconsider funding for the Bancroft Foodbank.
The letter, dated Nov. 12, is from North Hastings Community Cupboard Volunteer Executive Director Monica Piercey.
She expresses shock and concern after funding decisions that have yet to be finalized (voted on).
“The impact on the communities in North Hastings County are severe as 3 critical frontline service agencies (Bancroft Community Transit, North Hastings Children’s Services, and North Hastings Community Cupboard) are not slated to receive funding.”
The letter goes on to say that it is important that people understand the ‘depth at which these decisions are felt’.
“Rural North Hastings has struggled to maintain basic levels of service that are not experienced the same way in urban centres, such as Belleville. We have large geographical distances and higher costs of living to contend with; not to mention that we are mostly a cottage and service industry region with seasonal employment. Winters are very hard here.”
The letter also noted that the food bank has not applied to Hastings County for ongoing funding and that the ‘drastic increase in need for food relief services’ has caused them to look beyond current funding sources in order to meet emergency needs in the region.
“Our prepared meal program and breakfasts for the warming room have been operating under our regular food bank budget and have not been funded. This is simply not sustainable, and we need further support to continue. Our staff and volunteers are overworked and burning out. How are we expected to provide breakfast to a County operated Warming Room without funding?”
The letter shared some statistics, demonstrating the community’s increasing needs: The meal program served 5900 meals in 2023 and has already served 7010 in 2024, projecting 7900 meals for the year.
Piercey concluded the letter saying “We beg you to reconsider our request for $ 20,098.67.”
