Evergreen Basic Needs in Gimli has embarked on an expansion of its building as food insecurity has more and more people in the area turning to the food bank each year for help.
EBN executive director Karen Bowman said the food bank provided 247 Christmas food hampers in early December to people in its catchment area and expects to have to provide more.
The expansion will address space restrictions in the part of the building that houses the food bank.
Bowman got the green light from Gimli council last week to start the expansion process with an addition that will add 2,500 square feet.
“We applied for a variance and it passed unanimously at council,” said Bowman. “What comes next for us is the architectural design, obtaining permits and applying for grants.”
Bowman had made a presentation to Gimli council on Dec. 10, sharing information about the history of EBN and the vision of those who built the food bank in the 2000s at its present location on Fourth Avenue.
“They could not have planned for a global pandemic and an economic reality in its aftermath that has seen prices skyrocket across the board,” said Bowman during the presentation. “Added to that, the current situation and uncertainty again in the global economy that has turned everything upside down has led to increases in food bank use across the country [and] that has resulted in record numbers now needing food banks,” she said. “There is no indication that trend will reverse in the foreseeable future.”
In 2019 the food bank distributed 1,595 [regular] food hampers to food bank clients and is expecting to distribute 2,200 by the end of this year — a 40 per cent increase.
The food bank takes up 800 square feet of an approximately 10,000-square-foot building. The majority of the space houses the Respun Threads thrift store, warehouse area, office space and workstations for staff and volunteers to process donations.
EBN has tried a number of things to maximize space, including consolidating small sheds into a single large storage unit, knocking out walls and putting up shelving in various areas.
“Without expansion, our only option to expand the food bank would be to take away space from the Respun Threads Thrift Store,” said Bowman. “As the thrift store is the main income generator for the food bank and supporter of our life essentials and emergency programs, this would not be a wise step. What we would gain in square footage, we would lose in the ability to meet the needs of the people we serve.”
Bowman said the expansion will incorporate the private lane that EBN owns. The variance will allow EBN to remove six of eight existing staff parking spaces, and EBN has an agreement with a nearby landowner that will allow EBN staff to park there. Customer parking at the front of the building will not be affected by the expansion. Fourth Avenue can also accommodate parking and the RM has also “given permission to use the adjacent lot to the north of the building for additional parking, provided access is maintained to the RM buildings on site.”
Council received letters of support for the food bank’s expansion.
“It’s a sad but true fact food insecurity is on the rise,” said resident Lucille McTaggart. “Although EBN cannot solve the problem, it has always been there to help. Its evolution from a church basement to its current building is a testament to that. This new venture is its continuing willingness and determination to grow along with the community. As I see it, it’s a win-win.”
Resident Miles Lepine said he fully supports EBN’s expansion plan as it will better serve the needs of the community and ensure vital food support remains accessible.
“The organization continues to be a positive and essential part of Gimli, and this project will further strengthen its ability to deliver those services,” he wrote.
Gimli Coun. Andy Damm said he’s in full support of EBN’s plan to expand although it’s disheartening to see needs grow in the community as the cost of living continues to put pressure on people’s finances.
“I’d like to thank EBN, the community and council for supporting the expansion for such a worthwhile endeavour. It’s unfortunate that our community experiences issues that necessitate the expansion of EBN,” said Damm. “But having said that, the support of the people of Gimli underscores their commitment and generosity to others in our community.”
Preliminary discussions about the expansion project peg the cost at around $350,000 to $500,000, but Bowman said the actual numbers will be firmed up once the architect and engineer are brought in.
Bowman said EBN is mortgage-free and she had met with Access Credit Union to discuss funding for the expansion. She can also apply for two large grants, one through Food Banks Canada ($125,000+) and the through the provincial government.
The expansion project is expected to take about two to three years.
