By Emily Stonehouse
The Minden Community Food Centre is optimistic about the future, as they look back on their past. At their Annual General Meeting, held on Feb. 20 at the centre, the board shared the many accomplishments of their 2024 year.
To start their year, they had adopted a new corporate bylaw, which gave direction to the year ahead, as well as the commencement of a strategic planning exercise, which will outline goals looking ahead for three and five years into the future. Chair of the board, Gary Stoner, outlined the many community partnerships they have developed over the past year, including the Minden Legion, and various other service groups around the area.
As the organization enters their third year of the community garden program, Stoner noted an uptick in interest and need for the plots. “Some use their own plots to grow food for themselves,” he noted, “while others donate it back.”
Jean Munroe, the manager of the Minden Community Food Centre, provided some numbers on the usage of the site. She displayed a graph which indicated a steady increase of need across the board. In 2021, they were offering food to 200 individuals, and by 2024, that number had increased to 271. “I don’t think this projection is going to change any time soon,” she said.
Munroe also noted that the amount of food has increased over the years. “We used to provide three to four days worth of food,” she said, “but now we’re providing seven days worth of food.” Over 96 per cent of the revenues that the centre receives is donations. “We receive very little from any levels of government,” noted Jim Wilson, the treasurer of the board.
Wilson was able to provide an image that showcased the time of year that donations are received; with the end of the year looking the heaviest. This coincides with the holiday season. “Most of our donations are received in the last six weeks of the year,” he said. “It’s just the nature of the beast when that occurs.”
The unpredictability of the donation season generally results in the centre starting their fiscal year with a surplus, but makes it hard for the board to plan ahead.
It was noted that the organization hopes to leverage the other seasons to even-out their donations throughout the year. They have started offering donation boxes at various locations around Minden, as well as a tap and pay offering at Coneybeares, Pharmasave, and Boshkung Social in Minden. “This is a new initiative,” said Stoner, “but it seems to be going very well so far.”
While the centre is focused on funding projects throughout the year, it’s no secret that the need around the holiday season has an increased level of urgency. Erin Fearrey and Brandi Hewson, two board members of the centre, took the lead this past year to kick off their Holiday Hamper program. In 2024, they made 192 hampers, which supported 547 individuals in the community. They also purchased 206 gifts, making the value of the hamper hover around $150. While the centre’s funds were required to purchase some of the goods, many other additional items were donated. “$10,243 was raised for the hampers,” said Fearrey, “so a big thank you to where we live.”
Rumblings about the U.S. tariffs hit the table briefly at the AGM, and directors noted that the need for their services may be increased. “With the way the U.S. government is going, food is going to get a lot more expensive,” noted Stoner.
As the meeting wrapped up, the board opened the floor to questions. One concern that came up was the year-long interest in fundraising and initiatives, and the opportunities to leverage “summer people.”
In reference to tourists and cottagers, Stoner shared that they hope to connect with more lake associations, and have a presence at a series of summer events and activities, to put their name out there in a more relevant manner. “It’s part of our strategic priorities to get out there in the summer more,” echoed Hewson.
Munroe closed the meeting by thanking the many volunteers who are affiliated with the Minden Community Food Centre. “We have so many amazing volunteers,” she said.
“They just show up, and do so much, and it’s amazing to see.”
