By Dawn McCormick
The Barriere and District Food Bank held its Annual General Meeting on March 5, where the membership elected the following officers and directors:
President Deb Winiski , vice-president John Willox, treasurer Rose Seymour, secretary Marion Coltman, and Wayne Eustache director at large.
Wayne Eustache is our newest food bank member to be elected to the board of directors, with all the others being re-elected to the same positions held previously. We would like to welcome Wayne to the board, and are very excited to have him as a director.
Our membership is growing! We had three new members come to the board meeting, and we look forward to their fresh new ideas and perspectives about the food bank and its direction in the future.
Spring is in the air, and soon it will be time to start thinking about our Grow a Row program that is starting this year. This is a program where we furnish vegetable seeds like corn, carrots, potatoes, tomatoes, squash, beans, onions and so on. The participants plant those seeds in their garden and then the resulting produce is given to the food bank. Another way to participate is if someone already has seeds and wants to dedicate a row to the food bank. Also, if any of our clients would like to grow vegetables for themselves– we will also provide seeds for that as well.
The Grow a Row program is a way for the food bank to include fresh produce in the hampers in an economical way. You don’t have to be a great gardener to do this – especially with squash varieties. All you have to do is water and weed – the plants will do the rest. Some vegetables like potatoes require a bit more work – but we will include instructions with the seed potatoes. It’s not hard. I grew potatoes for the first time last year and was pleasantly surprised with the number of potatoes I grew. It was easier than I expected it to be. If anyone is interested, contact Dawn McCormick at 250-672-5699.
We will also have a booth at the Rural Living Expo and Trade Show coming up on April 26 and 27, at the North Thompson Agriplex and fall fair facility. We will have information and seeds for the Grow a Row program at our booth there.
The food bank continues to be open on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. If anyone is in need of a hamper, but cannot get to the food bank, we also do deliveries. Clients can call their order in ahead of time, and then we will deliver the hamper on Wednesday after the food bank closes. To have a hamper delivered, call the food bank at 250-672-1129. If we are not available, please leave your name and phone number, and we will call you back to get your order.
As always, we welcome anyone who would like to be a member. Membership is $2 a year. You contact Antoon Houben regarding membership information at 250- 672-9330.