Fredericton Food Bank wants you to name its new facility

Fredericton – The Fredericton Food Bank is on the move and to celebrate our new, larger facility and the growing role that we play in our community, we are inviting you to participate in the naming our new, spacious and bright facility at 686 Riverside Drive (the former Green Village Location).

Contest Details:
The contest will begin April 3rd and end April 16th, 2012, with the announcement of the winner on April 30th, 2012.  The name should contain the word “Village” and should embrace and reflect the community in which we live, play and grow. The winning entry, will be selected by a panel, and the winner will receive a $100.00 gift certificate, kindly donated by Tim Horton’s. To submit your entry, go to our web site www.frederictonfoodbank.com.  You may submit as many entries as you like.

Opening Day:  Monday, May 28th, 2012
Why are we moving?
We have an opportunity to operate from a better facility…… that is bright, spacious and can accommodate the growing need for the services we provide the community.

We can improve our efficiency and effectiveness to serve and feed our community, as well as to sustain and grow our operations, if required.

We will be able to operate on a different level while remaining true our principle to treat people in a manner that maintains dignity, challenges inequality and builds community.

Who Will Benefit?
People in our community who continue to require assistance for food and clothing:
2,300 individuals who visit us monthly, 36% of whom are children

The average client can access the foodbank once per month. Each hamper contains a 3-4 day supply of food including fresh milk, eggs, produce and bread as available.

New groups of people in the community interested in using the facilities for the broader purpose of a Community Food Centre.

What’s Changing?

Our Facility:
No more line-ups in the parking lot!  Clients will no longer have to stand out in the elements to select food and find clothing for their children.

Real meeting rooms with wheelchair accessibility!  Our interviewers can now conduct their client’s assessments in privacy – and not in an open space or our kitchenette.
All our food can now be stored on-site reducing our handling by 50%!
Ergonomic shelving and storage system means no more back-breaking lifting for our staff and volunteers!

Our Evolving Role:
The Fredericton Food Bank has been serving the Fredericton region since 1984. As time has evolved, so too has our role in the community.  As such, we are changing to reflect our modern community and becoming a “COMMUNITY FOOD CENTRE “.

A Community Food Centre is a place where people come together around a good meal, learn how to grow, cook, and choose healthy food; and find inspiration to work towards change by the powerful persuasion of good food.

Our new food centre will maintain emergency food programs, but will complement them with a range of capacity – and skills-building programs. Our future goals include increasing food access and equity, reducing social isolation, and improving health and food skills.

How can you help?
By Donating: The Fredericton Food Bank accepts donations of food, clothing, hygiene items, baby items, small household appliances, books, school supplies and other items that can be given to someone in need.

By Volunteering: Want to Volunteer? Go to our web site to check out our most current needs.
Media Contact:  Elizabeth Crawford Thurber, Executive Director
459-7461, Foodbank@nb.aibn.com