ATHABASCA – It has been nearly six months since the operators of the Good Samaritan Mission Food Bank requested a $10,000 contribution from Athabasca town council to help in their expansion plans, but they finally have their answer, and it's not what they were hoping for.
Athabasca town council denied the request at the Oct. 4 regular meeting. The original delegation and request from the April 19 council meeting saw councillors defer a decision until after a future tri-council meeting. That private meeting-over-dinner of the combined councils of the Town of Athabasca, Athabasca County and Village of Boyle, took place Sept. 26, and the request was apparently discussed, as it had been presented to county council as well.
“I think it was discussed at the tri-council meeting and it was pretty well unanimous, that because of the situation with private land … we were going to be denying this, were we not?” Coun. Dave Pacholok queried deputy mayor Sara Graling, who chaired the meeting in mayor Rob Balay’s absence.
Coun. Loretta Prosser was also absent from the vote.
CAO Rachel Ramey noted there needed to be an official motion by town council.
Pacholok went on to ask that the request be “graciously denied”, but to note in the communication to the food bank group that their hard work and time are appreciated.
Ramey also reminded council the town did write a letter of support for the project following the original delegation. That was the extent of the 1:19 discussion before the unanimous vote.
Background
Good Samaritan Mission Food Bank president Kerri Daniels and treasurer Lois Uchytil visited Athabasca town council April 19 to describe some of the facility upgrades of which they are most in need, as they struggle to keep up with growing demand, and to request a financial contribution of $10,000 toward the project.
Daniels told council the facility, located at 670078A Range Road 220, just north of town, is especially in need of a water system, bathroom, expanded kitchen and warehouse areas. She said they had already raised $50,000 of their $190,000 goal at that point, thanks to sponsors like Al-Pac. She also requested a letter of support from council for the group’s application to the Community Facilities Enhancement Program (CFEP), which would match their fundraising dollars.
Food bank volunteers, up to 35 of them, sort and bag up to 300,000 pounds of food and hygiene products every month, buying in bulk, and distributing to people not only in the Athabasca region, but far into the M.D. of Opportunity, M.D. of Lesser Slave River, Lac La Biche County, and points beyond.
