2023 Food Rescue Distribution Report
"For it is in giving that we receive” ~ St. Francis of Assisi
The above quote summed up of our journey this year of the community outreach ministry at Central. We've been truly blessed!
Initially, in 2022, it started from a small surplus of rescue food donations from a good friend, Rita Lee, who organized a weekly distribution in the Kensington-Cedar Cottage Neighborhood. She had a big heart to share the donations from CityReach food bank to several places such as the local shelter, social housings, community fridges, and pantries … and Central was one of the lucky recipients.
What started from a small distribution within the Central congregation, it gradually grew out to the community in the Westend. This all became possible due to the generosity of Rita Lee through Sharon Dong of the Food for Families Director of CityReach Care Society.
Early in 2023, I had the fortune to have been asked to pick up donations from FoodStash on behalf of Cedar Cottage Food Network. The initial plan was just for a few weeks, to pick up and deliver the donation to the Victoria Street community pantry until FoodStash set up their new community fridge in their area. FoodStash location was conveniently on the way to church on a Friday morning. The donation was allowed to be distributed at church also, that’s how it all started with FoodStash. We were blessed with more donations for the community and the number of people coming increased over time.
In March, after FoodStash installed their new community fridge and opened a weekly Thursday market also, our donations naturally were reduced, significantly. I was worried … but God was looking after us.
Sometime in March, I received an invitation from the Gordon Neighbourhood House to join a meeting of the West End Food Connectors. They heard of our Friday food distribution and would like to know more about it. I met a group of various organizations and churches of the Westend and downtown peninsula who had their unique community food ministry; some free and some with a minimal fee.
At a time, when our donations were low, an email came through from Alvin Chong of Salvation Army Belkin House, whom I got to know from the meeting. He had offer of a surplus of donations. I got in touch with him without hesitation and was referred to Chef Masa to get the donations. What supposed to be a temporary donation
became a regular, weekly donation... all due to the generosity of Chef Masa. Our food distribution flourished.
The Friday Rescue Food Distribution became more established throughout the year. We modified the distribution setup, moved from the entrance into the church lobby to create a bigger space. I was grateful we had a group of committed volunteers, ten of us enrolled in the online FoodSave L1 certification course.
I gratefully acknowledge and thank all the volunteers of this year: Hendrik, Luana, Andre, Leena, Sherry, Pauline, Barb, Lucy, Karen, Oonagh, Zoey, and Borak. A huge thanks to all the donors: Rita Lee, CityReach food bank,
FoodStash and Belkin House for their generous donations to make Central Rescue Food Distribution possible. Heartfelt thanks also to all who contributed to support the local food banks, a total of $1955.52 was raised.
Love in Christ,
Linda Lee