The Westlock and District Food Bank is celebrating 30 years of helping those in need.
Since its formation in 1985 the group has helped feed thousands of people from Westlock and surrounding communities.
The food bank first began operating out of the basement of St. Mary’s Church and has moved around several times before landing at its current location at Memorial Hall.
Dewaine Macaulay was the inaugural present of the food bank, while Sister Eileen Boyle joined on several years later and served as president until 2014. Following her retirement Sharon Kennedy became president.
Kennedy said taking over as president of the food bank, which has a rich history of helping those in need, was no easy task.
“It was overwhelming,” she said. “Right now I’m still in learning mode and there’s a lot of work that goes into keeping the food bank open, but I’ve had a lot of help from everyone.”
Sister Eileen said while the food bank has been in existence for over 30 years, it will continue to be needed in the community.
“I think there’s a great need and there will always be. I’ve talked to the people that run food banks in the cities and they said it’s just the same everywhere,” she said. “Everybody is hurting and the numbers are growing. Westlock is a very expensive town, rent is high, and food is high.”
Sister Eileen calls her years assisting with the organization a humbling experience.
“To me, I feel it’s very humbling, it bothers me to see older women line up to make ends meet, it really bothers me,” she said.
Feeding families with children, as well as child nutrition have become an issue for the food bank in recent years.
“We’re very concerned about the nutrition of children, and kids going to school hungry,” said food bank purchaser Wanda McMillan. “Some kids get excited because they get two or three loaves of bread and they say ‘Oh I can have two pieces of toast.’”
Kennedy said the food bank has been making a point of providing food for children’s lunches, but have had to cut back due to costs.
“We try to do bags for lunches and we were giving them five days worth of stuff for lunches, but this week we cut back to two just because everything costs a lot,” Kennedy said.
Sister Eileen said over the years the churches, social clubs, schools, and generous donors have helped the food bank survive, and are keys parts to the food bank’s continued survival.
