With its shelves nearly empty, Bradford's Helping Hand Food Bank received a much needed donation this week.
The Starbucks Foundation gifted the food bank $1,350 to help support the community's most vulnerable.
"Starbucks is a huge corporation that loves giving back to the local communities where their stores are located, and the most important thing for Starbucks is
to build relationships within the community," said store manager Amy Foster. "It is our job to help and support one another and ensure our community is taken care of."
Ward 2 Coun. Jonathan Scott said it's been his honour to support the food bank as council liaison and fundraising co-chair.
"It’s always wonderful to join the Helping Food Bank when a local business steps up to support the vulnerable, and we’re particularly grateful that our two local stores sought the support of The Starbucks Foundation to make this contribution," said Scott.
"The Food Bank team does such important work to support a record number of clients who need support with affording groceries at this time of high inflation, and every bit of support they receive, particularly from our local business community, goes a long way."
Ward 1 Coun. Cheraldean Duhaney said it gives a feeling of hope.
"Hope that we live in a community where people are very intentional about serving community and adding value," explained Duhaney. "Big thank you to the management teams at both Starbucks locations in Bradford West Gwillimbury. It is such a blessing to have community partners like Starbucks and the many
others who continue to support the food bank."
BradfordToday spoke with Helping Hand Food Bank's executive director, Carolyn Khan, following the release of Tuesday's federal budget, which included a grocery rebate for low-and modest-income Canadians and families. She said the food bank could potentially see over 500 families this month. In comparison, it saw 327 families in March 2022 and 281 families in March 2021. Khan says she has never seen Helping Hand's shelves so empty.
"We are low on almost everything: Kraft Dinner, tuna, baked beans, pasta sauce, rice, granola bars, juice boxes, peanut butter, canned vegetables...all staples in most of our kitchens," she said.
She says any and every donation helps because "we need those funds to buy more food than ever before."
More information on Helping Hand Food Bank, including how you can donate can be found here.
