Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.
With food insecurity more common than ever, Two Rivers Pastoral Charge has been doing their part to help in their community.
First started in late 2022, the Pastoral Charge has established a community food pantry in each of the three churches they oversee in southern New Brunswick. One is Westfield United Church in Grand Bay-Westfield, another is Long Reach United Church in Long Reach, and the third in Summerville is Bayswater-Summerville United Church.
The community pantries are better known as Ida’s Cupboards.
“The initiative came from Ida Macpherson, who was the chair of our outreach committee,” said Kate Jones, who is minister of Pastoral Care at Two Rivers. “We came across an article talking about these little free food pantries and we asked ourselves, ‘Do our communities need something like this?’ and we decided, yes, they did.”
Unfortunately, Ida died before the project was completed, but the decision to complete it was made in her honour.
Since their inception, Ida’s Cupboards have helped countless residents in the community. Residents can take what they need, and leave what they can.
“Sometimes in a day the cupboard will be full and empty several times,” said Jones. “which gives us an idea of ​​how many hungry people there are in our community at the moment.”
Pictured is Ida’s Closet at Westfield United Church in Grand Bay-Westfield, NB. (Source: Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic)
While the pantries are overseen by the Pastoral Care, the cupboard at the Westfield United Church has seen the entire Grand Bay-Westfield community contributing donations to help those in need.
Elaine Elkin is the administrator of the Westfield United Church, and she has noticed that everyone is fair about what they take to ensure that no one has to go hungry.
“They’re selective about what they take, they don’t come in and clear it all and take everything,” Elkin said. “They are very good and the need is great, much more than anyone knows.”
“It’s great,” said community resident Rae Wallace, who spilled some dish soap on Wednesday. “(Ida) that kind of person. Ida and her husband, they were very concerned about the community and the people in it.”
The entire community that supports the Grand Bay-Westfield closet is beyond what Jones could have ever imagined.
“It’s amazing to witness,” Jones said. “There’s a community Facebook group for Grand Bay-Westfield and I often see posts from people not connected to the church but I’ll post that they left food in Ida’s Cupboard but it seems pretty empty, and oh within a few hours the whole pantry will be filled by people in the community.”
Starting this year, the pantry will also have fresh produce available. The new Harvest Garden is located next to Ida’s Cupboard at Westfield United Church with fresh fruit and vegetables growing for anyone who needs them.
“We know there are people not only in the church but in the community who want to be able to help, want something to do to help, but it has grown far beyond what we dreamed of two years ago back,” admits Jones when adding the garden.
The Harvest Garden next to Ida’s Cupboard in Grand Bay-Westfield, NB (Source: Avery MacRae/CTV News Atlantic)
On Monday evening at 6:30pm, the new community garden will hold a grand opening as a way of thanking everyone in the community who made the initiative a reality.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
(Except translation, this story has not been edited by achinews staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
source link https://atlantic.ctvnews.ca/more/n-b-community-pantry-brings-residents-together-to-help-people-with-food-insecurity-1.6933316
