Food Bank
I would like to share a lovely project carried out by the associates of Saint-Louis/Saint-Ignace for Valentine’s Day.
A guided tour of the local food bank was organized by Jeannette, the group leader.
After meeting with the person in charge of the food bank, the guided tour was scheduled for Wednesday at 10:15 a.m.
Seven associates took part.
We were warmly welcomed. In addition to the food products we brought, a generous sum of $210 was donated. Thank you to all those who contributed.
The guide has been doing this for many years, and she explained how the distribution process is organized so as to be as fair as possible for the customers. A bag of basic items is prepared in advance based on the number of people in the family.
Another bag is filled cereals, bread, meat and fish, vegetables and frozen fruit.
This woman took the necessary steps herself to obtain the freezers and shelving to facilitate storage. Everything is clean and tidy.
Thanks to the dedication of volunteers who are always on the lookout for food sales, the food bank has reserves of canned goods, snacks and food for children’s school lunches. Other volunteers help out when trucks deliver goods from the regional food bank in Moncton. During the summer, local farmers supply fresh produce on a regular basis.
Camilla asked what was missing. We were told that they lack things such hygiene products, diapers, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpastes, and so on.
The number of customers is constantly increasing: newcomers, low-wage workers, elderly people living alone and other people in need. To respect their identity, they are welcomed one by one. When their bags are ready, they can take 5 items of their choice from the long table at the entrance.
They leave with groceries that have to last them a month, as they are only entitled to this pickup once a month.
It is an essential service provided by good people, but we should not delude ourselves into thinking it is abundance. It takes humility to come begging for food, resilience to accept without choosing and discipline to make it all last a month.
Visiting this place changed our perspective on food banks.
At 11 a.m., when we left the premises, people were lined up outside to visit the counter. These are valiant people like us who need to eat to continue their journey. The only difference, in my opinion, is that life has been less kind to them.
Francine brought a frame with a picture of Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys in it, which she gave to the project manager.
Another tangible trace of the passage of CND sisters through our Kent region in NB.
Rose-Marie Gigou, February 12, 2025
(Thank you to Rose-Marie for this report)
Congratulations on this wonderful project!
May Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys
support the people working on this project.
The Sisters of Saint-Louis-de-Kent,