Food bank distributes cash donations (5 photos)

Thanks to the $1,000 cheque recently provided by the Sudbury Food Bank, those in need in the communities of Onaping Falls, Dowling, Levack and Cartier will have more access to food.

“We have families with single moms and dads with young children, struggling families,” said Amy Henson, co-chair of Falls Food, the food bank serving about 50 families in the those communities.

“It means kids get to go to school with a full belly in the morning. It means clients don't have to worry about where the money's coming from at the end of the month in order to buy groceries. It means we're taking care of our neighbours, and that's a big thing.”

Falls Food was one of 38 local agencies to receive a total of $246,771 from the Sudbury Food Bank Nov. 18 as part of the organization's fall give. Twice a year, the food bank distributes monetary donations to its member agencies.

While the Sudbury Food Bank also distributes donated non-perishable food donated by the community, the cash pays for fresh foods such as fruits, vegetables, milk, eggs and meat.

Food Bank executive director Dan Xilon said the funds make things easier for member agencies, because they don't have to look for the money to pay for fresh foods.

“It gives them the opportunity to give out a better basket of food for people that come to use the services.”

Major Mike Hennessy was on hand to pick up a cheque for The Salvation Army's New Life Centre, a downtown Sudbury emergency hostel.

Recently, the agency had to discontinue its community meal program because of renovations to its facility, but still feeds those who live at the New Life Centre.

“It means we can continue to provide nourishing food and meals within our building, and that we can continue to meet the needs of our community,” said Hennessy, the service's executive director.