United Way of Bruce Grey (Photo by Nathan Shubert)
The United Way of Bruce Grey has distributed more than 700 pounds of beef to area food programs, after receiving a bulky donation from a farmer.
United Way of Bruce Grey Food Security Coordinator Paul Wagenaar says, the beef was donated from local farmer and Grey County employee Courtney Miller of Creamery Hill Farms.
The meat was picked up in Dobbinton on April 11 and some of the food programs met up at Big Bruce to celebrate and distribute.
The beef was distributed to South East Grey Community Health Centre, YUM Program, Chesley Baptist Church, the Canadian Mental Health Association Grey Bruce, and OSHaRE.
“Everybody knows about food banks and they do a tremendous job, not as many people know about the community meal programs. Since the start of the pandemic, the community meals programs have served more than 350,000 meals to people experiencing food insecurity in Grey Bruce,” says Wagenaar.
Wagenaar says the demand for food programs has gone up more than 300 per cent and has been increasing.
“Originally the pandemic was the cause of such a big demand, but because of inflation and the lack of affordable and safe housing, more and more people are turning towards the community meal programs because all of their money is going towards rent,” says Wagenaar.
Wagenaar adds, anyone who has gone grocery shopping recently can appreciate how much food has gone up in price.
“This donation will go a long way to support meals in the region,” says Wagenaar.
Wagenaar says many of the food programs rely on donations and the money that would have been spent buying meat can now go to other needed items.
