By Chad Ingram

Local lake associations are donatingthousands of dollars to Haliburton County's food banks amid theCOVID-19 pandemic and those who've donated are challenging otherassociations to do the same.

Food banks are experiencing increaseddemand amid the ongoing pandemic as many county residents are laidoff from work with demand up about 20 per cent so far.

The South Lake Association of Cottagersand Residents donated $1000 to the Minden Community Food Bank and ischallenging lake associations throughout the county to follow suit.

“They asked me to issue a challengeto the rest of the lake associations” Paul MacInnes chairman ofthe Coalition of Haliburton Property Owners' Associations told the Times . “Within 12 hours [the food bank] got another $1000donation.”

As MacInnes was on the phone with thenewspaper he got an email from a lake association in Highlands Eastannouncing it was donating $300 to the food bank in Wilberforce. TheRedstone Lake Cottagers' Association has donated $1500 to SIRCHCommunity Services as it increases the number of frozen meals it isproviding in the community.

The Maple Beech and Cameron Lakes AreaProperty Owners' Association has a $500 cheque on the way to the foodbank in Minden and president Murray Adam told the paper he expectedan additional $200 or so to be donated by members of theassociation's executive. MBC is also challenging other lakeassociations to donate.

“We're grateful for what the lakeassociations are doing to help us” said Joanne Barnes manager ofthe Minden Community Food Bank. “We welcome anybody who's losttheir job to come here. We are here to help. There is no shame incoming here for help.”