 Letter to the Editor - Poverty and the Election from Nancy Wright-Laking (Chair of the Board, Central Food Network)This Letter to the Editor was submitted to the following newspapers prior to the February 27th, Provincial Election: The Highlander, Haliburton Echo, and Bancroft this Week To the Editor: I have written this letter to the editor that I hope you might include in your next publication. With the election very shortly, I thought I should mention some items that people might want to keep in mind when selecting a candidate. As the provincial election nears, I ask that voters in Ontario think about the candidate that will consider the poverty that exists in our community and throughout Ontario. I am on the Board of Directors for Central Food Network (CFN), a not-for-profit charity that:
CFN does all of this without any ongoing government funding. We have been successful in getting some project specific grants from various governments but no government funding is provided to feed or help keep warm the many individuals that we see monthly at our food banks or heat banks. We rely on the generosity of our community and the fundraising efforts of the organization to feed and keep warm individuals in Haliburton. It frightens me that the ability for someone to eat is dependent on how successful we are as an organization to raise money! We have seen an incredible increase in need in services provided by CFN. The use of the food banks we run has increased 52.5% from 2021 (an average of 241 people per month in 2024 versus 158 per month in 2021). Some of the clients are working families that are made to choose between eating and rent. Use of Heat Bank Haliburton had a record 50 calls for help in January alone (the most ever in a single month). This is becoming a crisis in Ontario. Ontario needs to make a commitment to erase poverty in Ontario. Individuals need to make a living wage so that they can afford housing, food and heat. As the use of food banks and heat banks and need for affordable housing has only increased in the last 5 plus years, it is crucial that the government that we elect be responsive and responsible for these very basic personal rights. I ask that you please consider this as you vote in the provincial election this month. From, Nancy Wright-Laking Chair of the Board, Central Food Network  Raffle Proceeds in ACTIONIn mid-February on a snowy winter's day, our volunteer Sandy went to the Soloway Hot Dog Factory Outlet in Harcourt to pick up 180 one-pound packets of ground beef for our food bank clients in Highlands East. This was a special pick-up— as it marks our first purchase using proceeds from the CFN Heat & EAT 50/50 Raffle! So far, we’ve held two raffles, each raising a winner’s pot of over $1,000! We’re proud to reinvest these funds into our community—supporting local businesses and providing high-quality food for our food bank clients. A huge thank you to everyone who has participated! Every ticket purchased helps stock our shelves, nourish our community, and keep our neighbours warm. And special thank you to Soloway Hot Dog Factory Outlet Owner, David for assisting our team! Our next draw is on Friday, February 21st. Get your tickets today!  Group of our Amazing CFN Volunteers new year off to a rapid startThe population of Highlands East is 3,830 (according to the 2021 Census). Between Wilberforce and Cardiff locations, we fed 248 people in January which works out to 6.5% of the population, not including the people that accessed food from the giveaway days, nor the people who received food delivered to Minden Community Food Centre. In addition, we broke our record for most calls received in a single month for hydro and heating support through Heat Bank Haliburton County. Below we have included a summary by program of our impact in January 2025. Across all of our programs we are seeing an increased need for support - we are asking you to join us in our efforts to reduce hunger and keep our community warm. Our organization is fuelled by the generosity of neighbours helping neighbours, neighbours like you. Share our work on social media, make a donation or buy a raffle ticket to fuel the efforts of our staff and 60+ volunteers across the Central Food Network. Together, we strengthen our community and create opportunities to help our neighbours who need an extra hand. JANUARY STATS BY PROGRAMHeat Bank Haliburton CountyWe received 50 requests for help with heating and hydro emergencies - this is the most we have ever in a single month. To respond to these emergencies, we offer small grants for hydro, propane or furnace oil. We also keep stock piles of firewood ready throughout Haliburton County in case of a winter that is colder or longer than expected and people find themselves in a pinch. In January 2025:
Wilberforce food bank (Highlands East Food Hub)There were 248 visits to the food bank in January, providing food to 87 Families for a total of 178 people served. Of those people, 34 were children and 7 were new intakes. 18 hampers were delivered to families unable to make it into the food bank themselves. This took 15 volunteer hours. How the numbers compare:
Volunteers transported 27,031 lbs of rescue/surplus food equating to an estimated 18,090 meals*. Most of this was shared with the broader community through open giveaways. Ken also made 2 deliveries to Minden Community Food Centre to share 1,850 lbs of food. (Food banks receiving deliveries cover a portion of the travel for CFN to pick up food that is shared with them) Highlands East Community CooksMade 519 frozen meals, including pasta & chili dishes. These were all distributed through our food banks. Cardiff Community Food BankThere were 113 visits to the food bank in January, providing food to 28 Families for a total of 70 people served. Of those people, 20 were children and 11 were new intakes. 6 hampers were delivered to families unable to make it into the food bank themselves. In total, Cardiff volunteers dedicated 50 hours this month. How the numbers compare:
join us on our mission to reduce hunger and keep our community warmCFN is fuelled by the generosity of neighbours helping neighbours - neighbours like you! Every dollar donated creates over three dollars of impact across Haliburton County through CFN's food, heat, hydro and tax support programs. Thank you for standing with us! *Meal equivalency was estimated assuming that 13% of food weight is inedible (packaging, crushed in transit, etc) and then dividing the remaining weight by 1.3 as the average weight of a meal is 1.3 lbs.
|
Territorial Acknowledgement
Central Food Network’s work is carried out upon the traditional homelands, waterways and hunting ground of the Anishinaabeg, Métis and historically, the Huron-Wendat, under the Williams Treaties of 1923 and Treaty 20 of 1818. Central Food Network respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.
Central Food Network’s work is carried out upon the traditional homelands, waterways and hunting ground of the Anishinaabeg, Métis and historically, the Huron-Wendat, under the Williams Treaties of 1923 and Treaty 20 of 1818. Central Food Network respects the sovereignty, lands, histories, languages, knowledge systems, and cultures of First Nations, Métis and Inuit nations.
|
Search our site:
|
General Contact:
Main Office: (705) 448-9711 [email protected] Mailing Address: PO Box 213, Wilberforce, Ontario K0L 3C0 |
Follow Us:
|
We are a proud member of Feed Ontario.
|
We are a proud member of Food Banks Canada.
|
|
©2025 Central Food Network
All rights reserved. |
Central Food Network Privacy Policy.
Link to PDF. |
|