Sharing the harvest for food banks
Kat Rendek, Coordinator at All Things Food/Bouffe 360, reported there were approximately 22 volunteers who came to Upper Canada Village on Sept. 22 to pick vegetables and other food products for local food banks. One group seen here – which included Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell (front row, far left, kneeling) – gleaned the garden behind Loucks Farm and took a break to have their picture taken.       Thompson Goddard photo

Carolyn Thompson Goddard
Record Correspondent
MORRISBURG – The weather cooperated with plenty of sunshine streaming down on the 22 gleaners who came to Upper Canada Village on Fri., Sept. 22 to pick a variety of fruits, vegetables and herbs for use at local food banks.

Ian McKelvie, Community Food Share Administrator, was in the tomato field behind Louck’s Farm at UCV on Sept. 22 harvesting tomatoes which will be used in local food banks. Thompson Goddard photo

Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry MPP Jim McDonell was busy harvesting produce in the vegetable garden behind Louck’s Farm and commented how this project was a good idea in a society that seems to throw away too much.

The project began last year when Ian McKelvie of Community Food Share and Bruce Henbest of Upper Canada Village developed a plan to harvest food from the gardens of UCV to be used by local food banks. Community Food Share Administrator McKelvie said projects such as this help to improve the food which is provided to food bank clients. Ernie Coumont who is on the Board of Community Food Share stated that he “loves it.” Juliette Labossiere commented how “the Centre de Santé is happy to contribute to this initiative.” McKelvie explained how the harvested food provided to Community Food Share will be shared with House of Lazarus in Mountain as the HOL was unable to attend the gleaning this year.

People of all ages enjoyed the sun while picking produce in the garden behind Louck’s Farm at UCV on Sept. 22. The produce will be used by local food banks. Thompson Goddard photo

All Things Food/Bouffe 360 Coordinator Kat Rendek mentioned that Agape will be distributing the food collected at the gleaning to organizations such as the Salvation Army and Baldwin House. Rendek was pleased at the increase of volunteers in 2017 and expects an increase this year from the 700 pounds of food collected in 2016, explaining that six gardens at the Village are being gleaned as well as apple and pear trees being harvested.

Upper Canada Village Acting Manager Tracey Ogilby said this initiative was a really good partnership between Upper Canada Village and the local food banks, a sentiment seemingly shared by all present.