Food insecurity and food waste are two issues that prompted a newcomer to Tay Township to rally community members to create public cupboards, as unveiled last week throughout the municipality.
Three community cupboards were unveiled across Tay: Port McNicoll hosts one outside Royal Canadian Legion Branch 545; Victoria Harbour has one outside its Legion Branch 523; and the third cupboard is located at Veterans' Memorial Park at 133 Pine St. in Waubaushene, where the community garden is situated.
The project was spearheaded by Kristen Drury of Victoria Harbour, who moved into the rural area recently and brought with her the experience of social services from her origins around Hamilton.
“I became aware of how different resources look in a rural place where folks are residing and noticed that there are some potentially low-involvement ways that some gaps could be filled," said Drury.
"Where I come from, sharing cupboards and community fridges – different communal areas such as those – are really common," she explained.
“I thought it might be an interesting way to address both food insecurity in a rural place, as well as address food waste. It’s supposed to be a cyclical initiative where people can both give and take," she added.
Drury put in a deputation to the township earlier this year which was well-received by members of councils and committees. After connecting with Mary Warnock, president of Victoria Harbour’s St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank, the project gained momentum.
Support for the cupboards came from the Victoria Harbour Lions Club who had donated funds for the materials of the cupboards, constructed by Midhurst-area woodworker John Ford, who waived fees on the effort, and through the Legions and Tay Township for donating lands where the cupboards would be placed.
Dennis Esterbrook, Victoria Harbour Lions Club president, reiterated the support of his club for the project.
“Your presentation was a no-brainer,” said Esterbrook to Drury at the event. “It was automatic as soon as you got up and spoke that they (Tay Township) were going to OK this, and the location and the artwork speaks for itself.
“The buck don’t stop here,” he added. “You reach out to us, we’ll support you. This community has given every one of us something, and it’s time that we give back. We care and we share; that’s what the Lions is all about.”
Further community involvement came from HCF Smart and Caring, through A Mother’s Love - Helping Hands Fund established by Barb Jones.
Said Warnock: “I thought that was a really good fit that her fund made it all complete.”
Artwork was supplied by Anne Stacey for the Victoria Harbour cupboard, and Vicki Lucier for the Port McNicoll and Waubaushene cupboards.
Mayor Ted Walker praised the efforts of Warnock and Drury, and called the initiative “a super asset for each of our three communities”.
At each location, Drury told event participants that the overarching premise was to be sustained by the community, for the community.
“It creates a community-based initiative where people have a lot of buy-in because you could have people taking from it one month, and then in the next month if you have something extra or your garden’s really flourishing, you have something to give so someone else can benefit," said Drury.
“They’re extremely discreet. So if you did want to access one, and maybe these aren’t services you’re used to coming to, no one would know. You don’t have to give any identification or proof of income; you just come, and then potentially next month you’re donating.”
Locating a cupboard in Waubaushene took extra effort, but was successful with a placement at the community garden overseen by resident caretakers Sharon Langfield and Peter Cox. The intent of having it next to an abundance of fresh vegetables was welcome.
Warnock cautioned: “We have to be careful what we put in the cupboards. One thing that cannot go in the cupboards is medication or alcohol. Dry goods are the best; and hygiene products.”
Drury added, “When I used to do outreach near one of our women’s shelters ... it had just a pantry or box for menstrual products alone. These (Tay community cupboards) are nice because: in the way that we’ve set it up and the builders built it and Mary’s envisioned separating it, there’s room for toiletries in there. There’s a place for dry goods, and then produce from the garden. It’s nice how literally everything can come here.
“You never know who can benefit from that; I like that they’re a catch-all.”
Access to the cupboards is available to those wanting to give or take, with the phone number for the St. Vincent de Paul Food Bank painted on each door.
