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Wellsford’s Loaves & Fishes foodbank is having to cancel is Christmas Treat boxes for families this year due to severe financial constraints.
Group chair Karen Lennon said funds were so stretched that providing the festive extras this year could threaten the foodbank’s existence.
“Last year, we provided 150 Christmas Treat food boxes and it has been a pleasure to have been able to serve our community in this way for the past few years,” she said.
“But this year we had to make a choice between carrying on with the weekly boxes and the Christmas Treat boxes – and if we did the Christmas Treat boxes, the foodbank would close.”
Loaves & Fishes has been providing weekly food boxes since the 1990s purely via donations of food and funds from the local community, though government funding during covid and a $20,000 donation from a Wellsford church last year made extra Christmas treats possible.
Now that extra funding has been used up, it’s back to basics, though Lennon said the foodbank would still try to add a few extra festive items into their weekly boxes in December. The foodbank is also running a raffle to try to raise extra funds to buy food.
There are three prize packages worth between $500 and $1115 on offer – a new lawnmower and service kit from Silverhill Small Engine Repairs, treatments and luxury products from Nicki Jane Beauty Salon and Drummers Homestore, and an overnight stay package from the Wellsford Inn, Caffe Cozy, Woodys Winners and the Albertland Heritage Museum.
“Loaves and Fishes thanks everyone for their support, there are some great prizes,” Lennon said. “Each ticket bought will help us to help families in need through their difficult time.”
Tickets cost $10 from Silverhill Small Engine Repairs, Nicki Jane Beauty Salon, Drummers, Woodys Winners, Hammer Hardware and foodbank members until Sunday, December 14.
