Rural parishes promote food security

BY DAVID HUMPHREYS

Every two weeks half a dozen parishioners of the congregation of Church of the Ascension Killaloe and St. John’s Tramore come together to prepare food at their own expense for the growing number of residents who use the Killaloe Food Bank.

This parish outreach began during the pandemic when the parish council discussed ways of contributing to the wider community. A member who works at the food bank, Betty Fabian, suggested preparing soup and sandwiches for those who use the facility.

So began another successful initiative that illustrates the contributions that parishes throughout the diocese are making to ever-growing need for food and shelter.

The Killaloe parish consists of about 25 families, many of whom are active in the outreach. They formed a roster of six members taking turns, at first in the church basement, to make the food.

Soon the Community Resource Centre offered to partner by letting the team use its kitchen in the same building that houses the food bank and a used clothing shop.

“When we started, we were

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See story, p. 10 serving 10 to 15 persons and we now average 40 to 45,” says lead outreach volunteer Sandra Sharp.

“Besides offering them nutritious homemade food, it gives us the opportunity to chat with them and show our empathy and concern,” she says. The service has attracted a few volunteers from outside the parish, including some children who have been introduced to those experiencing food insecurity.

The congregation is part of the Parish of the Valley whose incumbent priest, the Rev. Matthew Brown, regional Dean of Pembroke, sees the program as a step in helping to address the often-hidden nature of poverty in rural areas. People aren’t seen sleeping on streets. But there are those who sleep in cars or “couch surf” with relatives or friends.

Small communities don’t have drop-in centres along the lines of the Belong Ottawa Community Ministry. Instead, parishes and service groups provide support to the extent of their abilities.

All 15 locations across the Parish of the Valley hold a Food Bank Sunday once every quarter to encourage donations for the food bank.