June 8, 2020

SALVATION ARMY SURVIVING WITH LOTS OF YOUR FOOD

SOUTH MUSKOKA — KD and instant coffee: two things you can’t live without if you need “food help” — or you’re the Salvation Army.

Lt. Kam Robinson said it use to be peanut butter — “but we made a large purchase recently, so we’re good.”

She told Gravenhurst Rotarians online here Monday that the shelves at the Muskoka Road North community services centre are oddly sufficiently stocked for now.

Especially with chocolate — which they slip a little extra into each hamper now along with the long list of basic healthy and fresh produce ingredients.

Robinson and her husband Ian run the local Citadel in Bracebridge, which includes the Gravenhurst community centre food bank and Thrift Store. They have the same services in Bracebridge — along with church that serves both communities.

So, is there enough food to go around?

Yes, said Robinson.

If go into the Gravenhurst office, she said, you’ll see “it’s so full of food.

“There’s food everywhere, spilling into the halls. The food stock levels are really good.”

And it’s a good thing, because demand is up with COVID-19.

And with the Sally Ann not being open its regular three days a week, they need all the help they can get.

Robinson told Rotarians that the past three months they served 277 households (representing 559 unique people); 173 of which were unique households (340 unique people).

The largest increase compared to previous years’ stats is children under age 18 — which is 28 per cent of their client services.

The largest segment is the 36-50 age bracket.

Seniors aged over 60 account for 13 per cent.

Robinson said food banks in general are finding that people are keeping their physical distance from food banks — she suspects because of the “extra support” people are getting from governments.

But the demand is still so high they’ve waved their monthly giving rule.

People can call and ask for help as often as needed.

“And we’re happy to do that,” Robinson said. “Some are coming weekly.

“No one is turned away.

“There’s no shame, no judging and few question.

And while they use to be open for drop-ins, they now arrange “curbside service” at their door by appointment or they also deliver.

With “few questions” and “little contact with the public.”

She said there are a couple of people in the back preparing hundreds of boxes of food (including fresh produce and protein) and an office person at the door to welcome and give not just a hand out, but a hand up.

Manager Corrine Hall, who Robinson lauded for her great job the past seven years, is retiring at the end of June and new person will be hired to fill her big shoes.

While the doors are closed, they’re open by appointment and always for emergencies if someone knocks.

Donations at the door of food are also welcome — can goods and packaged food are particularly welcomed. Along with hygiene products.

Food donations are still welcome, by appointment. Bill German dropped off bags of groceries to Beth and Candace at the Salvation Army in Gravenhurst at the start of the pandemic. All food donations are put in quarantine for three days before being handed out again.

Robinson said they’ve had “overwhelming support in Gravenhurst” — including from cottagers.

Which is good, because Sally Ann is “heavily funded by the Thrift Store,” which is a “question mark” right now.

It is closed — but the lieutenant expects it to open in July with some restrictions.

A comment enjoyed by Rotarian John Cooper. He said like many housebound he has been spring cleaning and is looking forward to donating items to the Thrift Store — specifically from the two storage lockers he has after downsizing.

The Thrift Stores help pay for staff and lights at the four sites in the two towns.

Robinson said “100 per cent” of what is donated in Gravenhurst and Bracebridge stays in each town.

She said many people are still donating with credit cards — which helps them purchase items in short supply.

So there is enough food to go around now.

Yes, she said, “we’ve got lot of resources to get food from.”

They’ve also had literally a ton of other donations.

In addition to a typical “food help” box — which feeds a family of three — they also recently received 360 hampers from Feed Ontario.

Each provides enough food for one person for seven days — so a family of three would also receive three of those boxes on top of a monthly gift of food.

Through the Salvation Army, the federal government gave them 75 YIG food gift cards worth $50 each, which they quickly gave out. Robinson also purchased additional cards at a discount.

They were also donated two new large freezers to store fresh food.

AgriCanada gave them a $7,000 donation.

And a monthly truck delivery from the Army’s Railside Distribution Warehouse is a God-send, Robinson added.

In addition, Food Bank Canada sometimes provides skids of free food — like chicken — which they share through the Bracebridge Citadel.

Robinson said any food donations are “quarantined” for three days before being given out. Safety first for workers and clients.

COVID-19 has also forced Sally Ann to cancel many programs it funds, such as summer camp for 15 kids, a moms and tots summer camp for seven, Baby Song for 15 other kids, and a planned Food Explorers teaching course with Feed Ontario.

Their Thursday men’s lunch has been postponed after there were no takers for a free bag lunch giveaway.

This, as the lingering threat to their lucrative Christmas kettle drive is at risk six months away.

One positive out of the pandemic is a Pathway to Hope program. It allows help for people forced to change careers or jobs moving ahead.

It’s a tough time, she said, as many Muskokans — especially those in their 20s — are struggling to feed and house themselves. The Salvation Army and District of Muskoka community services often house people in motels for extended times until suitable housing can be found.

The Army, too, will provide clothing and household item vouchers for the Thrift Shop.

It’s all strictly private and confidential. No personal information is shared with other social agencies.

But there’s room for services sharing Muskoka-wide.

Robinson said on only occasion do agencies co-ordinate similar efforts to share food or services — as the Salvation Army did with the Manna Food Bank in Bracebridge.

There is no sharing of client lists (for privacy reasons) or tangible efforts to avoid silos and duplication of services that would pool spending power and more equitably gain more bang for the clients and donors.

Still, Robinson wants to make sure that anyone can come to the Salvation Army for help — “before they max out on their credit cards.”

Rotary president MaryAnne Marshall offered to help share the word to her club members and beyond if there is ever a need for a quick-fix on, say, peanut butter or anything else.

“It’s part of a great story in Gravenhurst,” said Robinson. “We’re so encouraged — we have to keep going. We’re in this together.”

If you’d like to help the Salvation Army in its food and social ministry, visit them at their website: www.bracebridgecommunitychurch.com

The Gravenhurst location is open Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

And by appointment. Call Robinson at 705-706-4814.