Barrie nonprofit that supplies food to people in need has a need – a new home
Fresh Food Weekly had to halt service at the end of September
For Leah Dyck, it was worth the drive to Toronto, Bradford, Georgina, and other places to pick up products for Fresh Food Weekly.
Dyck started the non-profit after losing her job because of the pandemic.
She was able to build a list of 20 donors, including food businesses and farmers. Dyck made her first delivery to local families in need on June 3. The non-profit indicates on its website that most of the clients live in social housing.
But the program stopped at the end of September when the community centre she was using at a Barrie public housing location was no longer made available. The space was offered to her six weeks into the launch of her program because the facility was not be used as a result of COVID-19.
At the time, Fresh Food Weekly, with the help of about 20 volunteers, was delivering 2,000 pounds of food a week to nearly 270 families.
Dyck has been searching for another place to occupy, preferably rent-free until Fresh Food Weekly is registered as a charity.
“I’ll be allowed to apply for grants and get funding,” she explains. “Basically, I only need funding for a facility and a bit of money to pay for gas to pick up all the donations.”
Anyone that can assist with space can reach out at leah.dyck@icloud.com
