Need is greater than expected, say new food bank co-ordinators

The new volunteer co-ordinators of the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank in Montague, P.E.I., are hard at work keeping things running smoothly.

Frank andVivianDourtetook over asco-ordinators after the former co-ordinators,Lawrence andMarlenePower relocated to Nova Scotia.

"At first I was scared but this place is fairly organized so it made the transition fairly easy from what I was doing before," Frank said.

The couple were on different volunteer boards and thought being involved in the food bank would be a good opportunity to give back and help the local community.

"There's a great need in Montague and the Powers have done such a great job of getting it together and without somebody to take over and co-ordinate the food bank, I didn't want it to just fall away," Vivian said.

Grateful clients

The Dourtessaid those who use the food bank are grateful it's still in operation.

"We had a woman come in who had lost her job and shed a couple of tears. It just hit us right in the heart...it's not because of a lifestyle, it's because of circumstances that people find themselves coming here," Frank said.

Vivian added there is no judgement. "They are here because there is a need."

The couple said they were both surprised to learn that the need was so great.

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"I didn't realize there was that many families that were looking for help," Frank said.

A new agreement with Sobeys will help bring more meat and dairy products into the food bank.

TheDourtessaid they are hoping to make small changes to the menu and to be able to provide a bit more help to clients.

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