A new endowment fund will take a bite out of hunger by providing annual funds to local food banks.
The Nutrition Support Fund is a permanently endowed fund recently set up through the Interlake Community Foundation.
It all began when Stonewall resident Lloyd Jensen noticed that several community foundations in Manitoba have endowment funds designated to support their communities’ food banks. He reached out to Tracy Holod, executive director of the Interlake Community Foundation, to find out if the local organization had any funds set up for this purpose.
Since there wasn’t anything set up yet, Jensen asked Holod to set up a new fund, which will provide funding each year to Interlake Food Bank in Stonewall and the Teulon and District Food Bank and Services Inc.
“It has been widely reported that food bank usage is rising throughout the country. Supporting that need seemed to be a reasonable course of action. In the past, I have supported similar agencies in Winnipeg — mostly because they were more visible and easily accessible to donate to,” Jensen said.
“This fund brings that support to a local setting and ensures that our support will continue on after we are gone. The perpetual grant is a fundamental premise to endowment funds. This fund is not meant to be in lieu of current ongoing donations to the food banks but rather an additional option for anyone that might be so inclined.”
Both local food banks would welcome financial or food donations of any kind, he added.
“They are 100 per cent volunteer run, so it is also a means to attempt to show those volunteers that their participation is appreciated and supported,” Jensen said.
“In reality, these people are doing all the work. This fund merely tries to help them do what they already do.”
Since it’s a designated fund through Interlake Community Foundation, Holod explained that its annual disbursement will go directly to both food banks.
“They do not have to apply for this disbursement, and as local registered charities, they are still able to apply for a community grant each year,” Holod said.
“We typically disburse around four per cent of a fund’s market value, ensuring that the donations will remain in the fund. This also means that as the fund grows, so will that annual disbursement. The food banks can use this amount in their annual budgets.”
For Holod, she said it was a pleasure to help Jensen set up the fund.
“It will provide lasting support to a population of people here in the south Interlake that can use our help. We all need a helping hand from time to time,” she said.
“I hope people will donate to this fund. Our local food banks support so many people, and having the public make donations will grow the fund so that the payouts will grow too.”
Now that the fund is set up and accepting donations, Jensen is grateful to everyone who helped to make it possible.
“A huge thanks to Amy at the Teulon Food Bank for spending an hour of her time educating me on their program. I like to do some background research to ensure that what I might do is not detrimental to an existing program,” he said.
“As well, a thanks to Tracy and the Interlake Community Foundation for their management of these funds. And, lastly a personal thanks to Juliette and Merle Balsillie for their incredible donation within days of this fund being set up.”
To donate to the cause, visit the Interlake Community Foundation’s website at www.interlakefoundation.ca and find the heading called “Our Funds.” Scroll through those funds until you see Nutrition Support Fund.
Interlake Community Foundation can accept donations securely online through its partnership with the Winnipeg Foundation or by e-transfer or cheques payable to the Interlake Community Foundation, mailed to Box 1575, Stonewall, MB, R0C 2Z0
