Hantsport and Area Community Food Bank faces forward

Beth Caldwell, Becky Mason, Jo Hazel, and
Chris Fry attended the meeting to discuss the future of the Hantsport food bank,

Becky Mason, Director of Strategic Initiatives & Client Programs with Feed Nova Scotia met with 16 interested citizens at the Hantsport Baptist church on January 12 to discuss incorporating the Hantsport and Area Community Food Bank (HACFB). This will place limitations on personal liability, make the purpose of the society and the names of the directors available to the public, and formalize the rules of the society. Some who attended were pastors, volunteers; and some who had received help from the food bank. Everyone was passionate to take the food bank to its next level to continue to serve the people of the area. 

  For incorporation, the group wrote on Saturday:  The mission statement,of the Hantport and Area Community Food Bank is to provide healthy emergency food for those in need and to increase awareness of hunger issues.

  Until 2001, Hantsport pastors distributed food in an informal basis. They decided that they needed a more unified and efficient system, they provided food to 11 or 12 families. This soon increased to 20 or 21 families. Churches from Avonport to Lockhartville joined as the HACFB moved from church support to community support. It moved from theBaptist Church basement when it was flooded, to a building on Main Street until it was flooded, to the Just Us Coffee building at 35 William Street until that building was sold in December, 2012. The food bank currently serves from 40 to 45 families once a month.   

  Until now, Shirley and Brian Bishop have been the public face of the HACFB. When anyone needed help, they called the Bishops. 

  Recently more people are volunteering their help for the Hantsport and Area Community Food Bank and it will soon have a new co-ordinator, and new treasurer, and other new officers. Volunteers are currently setting up the food bank back in a different part of the building at 35 William Street.

Officers as follows:

                   Coordinator----Jo Hazel

                   Ass. Coordinator---Elaine Harvey

                   Inventory Manager-----Chris Fry

                   Grocery Manager--------Heather Mc Innes

                   Food Safety Officer----Linda Oikle

                   Treasurer       ----------Beth Caldwell

                   Communication/ Education officers---Shirley & Brian Bishop

                   Shipping  supervisor –still to be determined

Jo Hazel and Shirley Bishop after the meeting.

                   

Note: Brian pointed out that Place of Residence was determined by town.  62% had Hantsport in their postal address but did not necessarily live in Hantsport.