Six years ago there was no food bank serving South Frontenac, but there were a number of programs available to residents in different communities. Different churches gave out food, the Loughborough Christmas and Emergency Relief Committee and the Community Caring Centre in Hartington also helped people access food.

“We saw that there was a lot of effort but a lack of co-ordination, so we started up a service at that time,” said David Townsend, executive director of Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCS).

The SFCS Food Bank was set up in 2011 and has been up and running ever since, working closely with the churches and the other groups that were already active in the township.

The food bank co-ordinator, Vickie England, has a half-time position with the agency. She works with almost 25 volunteers, who sort the non-perishable items; shop for meat, vegetables, eggs and milk; gather fresh vegetables from the SFCS community garden program in season; and prepare baskets for pick up.

In Sydenham, pick up is at the Rural Visions Centre on George Street on Tuesday & Wednesday afternoons and Friday mornings, and in Verona it is on the second and 4th Tuesday of the month.

Food bank use increased steadily over the first two years that the food bank was open and has remained steady since 2013.

“It is a concern to us that we serve so many children now,” said Vickie England. “We serve a lot of families, including some pretty large blended families.”

The statistics that she keeps bear out her impression. For example, last month 59 baskets were given out, serving 171 people. Of those, 71 (41.5%) were children, by far the largest cohort. Children receive, in addition to their share of the family-sized baskets, food for school and weekend snacks, including yogurt and cheese, extra fresh vegetables and fruit.

In terms of geography, last month 38% of those who received food came from Verona; 31% from Sydenham; 9% from Harrowsmith; and there were recipients from Perth Road, Hartington, Inverary, Battersea and Godfrey as well.

So far this year, 539 food baskets have been handed out, which is on track to match or exceed the total of 718 from last year. While use has been steady in the range of 50-55 baskets per month all year long, there have been unusual months, such as June (70) and August (44).

“We had no way of predicting that June would be that busy and August that quiet,” said England.

Eligibility for food baskets is determined by a means test. Baskets are stocked with a 5-7 day supply and can only be accessed once a month.

“We have 159 families on our eligibility list,” said David Townsend. “Those are people who have accessed the food bank within the last six months.”

The food bank is an un-funded program of SFCS, which means it only survives courtesy of food, and, most importantly, financial donations.

“We had $16,000 in the food bank account bank at the beginning of our fiscal year on April 1,” said Vickie England. “By the end of September, we had $9,000.”

The Christmas season is crucial to the food bank because it is the prime fundraising season and the SFCS Food Bank has a number of events scheduled in the coming weeks.

The first is the annual Vision Soup event on Saturday, November 28, 11:30am - 1:30pm at the Grace Centre, on Stagecoach Road in Sydenham. For a $20 ticket plus a food donation, people can purchase a pottery bowl filled with soup from local restaurants. Tickets are available in advance at the Rural Visions Centre, Sydenham Chiropractic, Trousdale’s General Store, and Sydenham Veterinary Services.

Also, at the Sydenham Santa Claus parade on the same day, members of the Sydenham High School football team will be holding a food drive for the food bank.

Next Tuesday, December 1, the South Frontenac Food Bank is holding an Open House as part of the National “Giving Tuesday” event (a response to the Black Friday – Cyber Monday craze). From 2-5 pm, the food bank will be open to the public, providing an opportunity to see how the food service works and how important it is to the local community.

Giving Tuesday will also mark the start of a major fundraising drive by the South Frontenac Food Bank. Donations of a basket for a single person ($40), a family of two ($60) and a family of four ($100) are being sought as part of the campaign. The goal is to receive donations of 150 baskets by the end of December through the campaign.

“We need to average about $5,000 a month in donations to keep the food bank afloat,” said David Townsend. “From June to September we raise about $300 a month, so you can see how important this season is to us.”

Saturday, December 12 in the villages of Sydenham and Verona

Christmas is just around the corner. This holiday, you can make a difference and help make this time of year special for all! On Sat. December 12, 10 am to 3 pm, OPP Auxiliary Constable Jennifer Robertson, along with fellow officers and SFCSC volunteers, will be parking OPP cruisers at Trousdale’s Foodland in Sydenham and at Reid’s Foodland in Verona.

Help fill the cruisers with non-perishable food items! The food collected will support the food bank operated by Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation.

This year, Southern Frontenac Community Services (SFCSC), a charitable non-profit organization, celebrates its 26th Anniversary. SFCSC is the sole provider of health support services and social support programs for seniors in South Frontenac and rural Kingston, north of the 401. The agency also provides financial and food security support for low-income families. SFCSC’s food bank operates with the assistance of over 20 local volunteers, receives no government funding and is entirely supported by donations from local churches, schools, organizations, and the general public, and through events such as Stuff the Cruiser!

The food bank is currently being accessed by an average of 55 households a month. The items that are in high demand are peanut butter, Kraft dinner, canned tuna, pasta sauce, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables, cereal, school snacks, crackers, rice, and canned soup, just to name a few. The food bank assisted over 700 families in 2014; this includes 1,248 adults and 673 children. Children are the most vulnerable people we feed, representing over 41% of the people we serve.

The SFCSC Food Bank is able to provide five to seven days’ worth of non-perishable and perishable staples to 100 adults and 60 children on average per month. Upon eligibility approval, the SFCSC Food Bank may be accessed once a month. Pick-up dates are on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

Contact: Jennifer Linton 613-376-6883, SFCSC at 613-376-6477 or Jennifer Robertson at 613-384-1774

Stretching resources to the limit

Kim Cucoch, the President of the North Frontenac Food Bank (NFFB), says that demand for food has hit an all-time high, and the small food bank is struggling to keep their own cupboard from being bare.

“Our demand is up by over 55% this year, and ever since the beginning of October it has been even busier, and the increase is coming mostly from senior's,” Cucoch said, when interviewed earlier this week.

The number of NFFB users who receive Canada Pension Plan (CPP) or Ontario Aged Security (OAS) benefits is up by 110% this year.

20% of Food Bank users are senior's, about 50% are on a disability pension or Ontario Works, and the other 30% are employed on a full or part-time basis.

There are just over 3,000 households in the catchment area of the NFFB,

The North Frontenac Food Bank uses criteria for eligibility that are set by the Ontario Association of Food Banks (OAFB). They calculate the monthly income of applicants, subtract heat, hydro, rent and phone costs and look at how much is left and how many people there are in the family to determine eligibility.

Although food is distributed twice weekly, on Tuesday and Friday mornings, each family can only use the Food Bank once a month.

“The Food Bank is not a grocery store. We provide one week's worth of groceries for a family to help them get by. They are on their own for the rest of the month,” Cucoch said.

The North Frontenac Food Bank serves families from Godfrey north to Plevna, and Maberly west to Arden, but all recipients need to pick up their food at the depot in Sharbot Lake, in the courtyard behind 1095 Garrett Street.

406 baskets of food, most of them family sized, have been handed out this year, and Cucoch expects the number will easily hit 450 or more by the end of the year. 44 went out in October, the most ever, and November is at 38 with two weeks left in the month.

The total for all of 2014 was 289.

“The thing that worries me most is that we have $5,000 in the bank right now, which will only get us through until Christmas. After that we could be in trouble,” she said.

While the Food Bank accepts donated food, they purchase fresh fruit and vegetables and meat on Tuesday and Friday mornings, and monetary donations are required to keep them afloat.

“We do receive some small grants and we get food from the OAFB but for the most part we depend on donations to get by,” said Cucoch.

The North Frontenac Food Bank is a registered charity and gives out tax receipts for donations over $10. The Food Bank has about 20 volunteers.

At the Festival of Trees in Sharbot Lake food and donations are accepted at the door as a voluntary admission, and the Food bank is also a partner in the Christmas Dinner that takes place in Sharbot Lake each year, but right now they are appealing for support directly to the public as the Christmas season gets underway.

The best ways to reach the Food Bank for those who require food or those would like to donate are by phone at 613-532-8855 (voice message only) or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Nine-year-old Leila Lawrence-Montag of Harrowsmith offers a bag of donated groceries to volunteers with the Southern Frontenac Community Services Food Bank who were collecting food and cash donations outside the Foodland in Sydenham on October 3. The items deemed most needed by coordinators at the Food Bank include canned meats (tuna, salmon, ham and chicken and turkey), beans, soups, chilis and stews, pasta sauces, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter jams and jellies, dry rice and pasta, cold cereals and assorted lunch snacks like granola bars, puddings and apple sauce. For those who missed the event, any food and/or cash and cheque donations can be dropped off at 4419 George Street in Sydenham any time from 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. 

Volunteers at the North Frontenac Food Bank held a first-time community garage sale fundraiser on May 30 in Sharbot Lake. The sale took place in the parking lot of the Sharbot Lake Country Inn and included a wide variety of items donated by the volunteers and members of the community: furniture, clothes, sporting goods, books, home, kitchen and garden wares and more.

Kim Cucoch, a volunteer with the NF Food Bank, said that the volunteers wanted to try a different kind of fundraiser this spring and by the end the day, just over $1,000 was raised. Those who missed the fundraiser and would still like to make a cash donation to the NF Food Bank can do so by calling 613-532-8855 or by mailing a cheque to The North Frontenac Food Bank, P.O. Box 151, Sharbot Lake, K0H 2P0.

by Dawn Morden

Mountain Grove Seed Company and the North Frontenac Food Bank would like you to “share your fare” this year. Keep the food bank in mind when planning and planting your garden. Add a few extra plants and share some of your harvest once or twice throughout the season.

Communities have the capacity to grow a large portion of the food they consume. Take your passion for growing food as an opportunity to contribute to your community. This initiative is based on the Kingston “grow a row” campaign, and business challenge, sponsored by the Loving Spoonful.

We would also like to challenge local businesses to participate. Grow one plant in a container, and donate the harvest. A free tomato plant will be offered to businesses from Mountain Grove Seed Company, upon request. Some small 12" plants will be available.

Suggested vegetables include but are not limited to peas, lettuce, beans, tomatoes, peppers, onions, corn, potatoes, cucumbers and watermelon. Berries from your berry patch, or apples from your trees are also welcome.

Bring donations to the food bank on Tuesdays or Fridays between 9:30 and 10am. Produce will be distributed soon after, for maximum freshness. Share your fare!

Also, the food bank would like to start a small garden in Sharbot Lake. We would like to hear from you if you have some appropriate space that could be used, or if you would like to volunteer to assist with care of the garden. For more information, contact Kim Cucoch, North Frontenac Food Bank, at 613-532-8855, or Dawn, Mountain Grove Seed Company, 613-876-8383.

by Marilyn Bolender

On October 1, the Land O' Lakes Lions Club presented a cheque to the Land O' Lakes Community Food Bank in the amount of $2,000. On the left is Lion Pam Lemke, in the centre Lion Red Emond, and missing from the picture Lion Phil Barchard, who were instrumental in raising this money by holding the 1st Annual Fun Golf Tournament, held at Hunters Creek Golf Club. Receiving the cheque is Betty Pearce. The Lions hope to make this event an annual affair and many people are already asking for a spot for next year. The local food bank has had an abundance of calls for help this year and with more money going out than coming in, the LOL Lions helped fill the void.

BY J.J. (Red) Emond

As ordered, the sun shone, people brushed off their old clubs, corn was husked, the barbeque was lit and the game was on for the first Land O' Lakes Lions' Charity Golf Tournament. The event took place at Hunters Creek Golf Course where staff readied the grounds, welcomed competitors, supplied all with great food and beverages for what proved to be better than expected tournament. Adding to the excitement was the fine music provided free by John Fradenburgh of Spill the Beanz along with Clarence Berube and Chris Whiteman. The beat was such that normally painful hips were swinging and dancing to the sound of old time favourites.

This event could not have been successful without the generosity of merchants and people living in and out of the area. Games such as putting, chipping and bean bag throwing added to our revenue. Some winners even returned their winnings to help boost our profits over our financial goal of $1,500. That goal was exceed by $363 and will further be increased once we auction off the few gifts that didn't get claimed.

This tournament was put together quite rapidly to help the Cloyne food bank meet its ever increasing needs. We heard they were desperate, and the community jumped in. The committee elected to forgo giving prizes to the lowest score tournament winners so that cash could be added to revenue. Instead, their names would be published nation-wide. Hence, the foursome led by very capable Heather Machan and assisted by Lois Emond, Bruce Cooke and Dan Myers provided distance and accuracy to card a respectable tournament record of 3 under par. Their names will be inscribed on our yet to be designed golf trophy.

Folks, we were touched by the generosity of all who helped us put this together. You may think you played a very small part; but believe us, that's what is expected from people of such small communities. Together we can make a difference. In this case, you are helping feed the less fortunate and for this we say: Thank You.

In addition to the many who donated food items, some grocery shoppers like June Crowley, who cottages in Arden, offered a cash donation at the August 30 “Stuff the Cruiser” event in support of the North Frontenac Food Bank, which took place at Mike Dean's grocery store in Sharbot Lake. Crowley said that she believes that it is important for her to give to the food bank here as a way of supporting the local community. Also helping out was Food Bank volunteer Dan Cunningham of Mountain Grove, who stressed the importance of giving whenever possible, citing, “a huge need and the importance of taking care of those in the community who find themselves in need of help.” OPP Constable Greg Streng, who was also assisting with the drive, said that Sharbot Lake shoppers were being very generous and by noon both the cruiser and the donation bucket were quickly filling up. Thanks to all who donated.

On June 27, volunteers with the North Frontenac Food Bank (NFFB), which had been run out of the basement of St. Andrew's Anglican Church in Sharbot Lake for close to three decades, celebrated the official grand opening of its new location in Sharbot Lake.

The food bank is now located at the rear entrance of 1095 Garrett Street, directly across from the Frontenac News office in a space that was donated by Rosemarie Bowick. The new and improved space is equipped with a new fridge, a new freezer, new storage space and new shelving units.

Kim Cucoch, the coordinator of the North Frontenac Food Bank, spoke at the opening and said that the impetus for the move was an increased demand in food due to an increase in their client base and the need for more space to store food supplies, especially fresh items like milk, meat and eggs. “The number of seniors we are serving has greatly increased as a result of the high cost of heat and hydro,” Cucoch said, “and this past year alone we served over 100 families on a regular basis, which is an overall increase of upwards of 15% from the previous year.”

While the North Frontenac Food Bank has always been its own separate entity, prior to the move volunteers relied on staff at Northern Frontenac Community Services in Sharbot Lake, who managed all their telephone communications. Now the NFFB has its own telephone line, 613-532-8855, where inquiries can be made. Volunteers will return all inquiries and set up appointments. The acquisition of the new equipment and the new stairs were made possible through the NFFB’s recent partnership with the Ontario and Canada Food Banks, which came about last fall and enabled NFFB volunteers to apply for one of just four capacity-building grants made available through KRAFT Canada and Food Banks Canada. The North Frontenac Food Bank was successful in their application and received a $3148 KRAFT Canada grant in February 2014. Kim Cucoch said the new equipment will go a long way in increasing the quantity and quality of the food they are able to provide to their clients.

In attendance at the special ceremony was Town Crier Paddy O'Connor, who said in his address that “one child going to bed hungry is one child too many.” Mayor Janet Gutowski also spoke, thanking the volunteers with the NFFB for the important work they do in the community and citing the importance and need of members of the community “to step up and do more." She said, "I want to ask members of the community if there is something else they can do to help reduce the demand for food in this community”. She suggested mentoring young people to enable them to be more gainfully employed; becoming an angel investor in a small business; or as an employer, paying employees a living wage.

The North Frontenac Food Bank is run solely on donations and by volunteers and therefore is always seeking both. In addition to ongoing donations which assist in covering the average monthly cost for one $53 family basket, they are also currently in need of volunteers to work for one or two hours on a monthly basis. They are especially in need of volunteers in the winter months.

For more information about the NFFB and the services it offers, to become a volunteer or to make a donation call 613-532-8855. Every call is returned and clients can then arrange an appointment with one of the NFFB volunteers.