Rising numbers of clients have prompted the Glace Bay Food Bank to enlist the help of local students to expand the offerings in its backyard garden.
“More and more people are using our service,” said Sandra MacPherson, the food bank co-ordinator.
“We see new people coming in and telling us how hard it is and when you’re trying to put a roof over your head it’s getting more and more difficult all the time.”
Getting students involved
This season, staff have been teaching junior high and high school students how to grow food that can be used at the food bank.
MacPherson said it’s a new idea for the food bank and a unique way to get young people involved in fighting the child poverty staff see on a daily basis.
Kimberly MacPherson runs the garden, and teaches at Oceanview Education Centre and Glace Bay High.
“We recently had a grade 10 co-op class come out. They built two boxes for us, we taught them how to build rows, how to plant,” she said, “A lot of them never planted before.”
“It was a very big deal for them to be part of their community and being able to help out.”
“We’re getting different people from all over the Island to speak to…
