North of Smokey Food Bank Association - (902) 285-2665 or (902) 285-2448

Donations: Please contact: Gordon @ 902-285-2665 or Hector @ 902-285-2448. Donations of unopened and unexpired items as well as cash donations are welcome.

The North of Smokey Food Bank began in 2003 as an outreach program of the United Church in Cape North. It was an initiative of the then minister, Rev. Chris Matheson.

After several years the ministry was unable to continue the service and it was taken over by a couple of members of the United Church in Ingonish, Gordon Rideout and Hector Murphy, who for the last approximately ten years have volunteered their efforts to continue and grow the food bank, under the auspices of the Ingonish United Church.

In 2016 it was realized that the need for and use of the Food Bank had grown to a level at which it was no longer feasible for just two volunteers to operate it. At the same time the ability of the United Church to contribute to the running of the Food Bank had declined. As a result, it was decided to incorporate the Food Bank as a separate entity and bring additional volunteers on board to help manage it.

Currently

The North Of Smokey Food Bank Association was incorporated as a non-profit society in the province of Nova Scotia on February 18, 2016.
There is a Board of Directors made up of 5 community members. The incorporation documents state that the Mission of the Food Bank is “on a volunteer and non-profit basis to relieve poverty by providing and distributing food and food related products to persons of low income in the geographic area north of Cape Smokey in Victoria County, Cape Breton.”

Assistance


Individuals or families needing assistance are asked to phone (902) 285-2665 or (902)-285-2448 and arrangements will be made for a time to pick up supplies. Usually assistance is limited to one hamper a month, but each situation is dealt with according to need.

At present, the Food Bank is not open on a drop-in basis.

In addition to providing food to community members in need, when needed, the Food Bank also provides families in need with Christmas food hampers.

Requests for assistance are kept strictly confidential. We operate on the assumption that anyone requesting assistance is in need and therefore we do not ask for proof of need. Assistance is provided for as long as it is needed.

Donations of non-perishable food or money are needed and very welcome. Donations of money may be mailed to: P.O. Box 266, Ingonish, N.S. B0C 1K0

Volunteers willing to become involved in the on-going operation of the Food Bank are needed and we invite anyone who is interested in contributing to the daily operation to contact either Gordon Rideout or Hector Murphy.

Volunteers must be responsible, discrete, clear of any criminal record and physically able to collect, prepare and manage hampers of food items.

Tags: Non-Profit Organization