When Irene Danielson heard that some community members were eating only two meals a day, she and Linda Fortin decided to do something about it, creating the Lundar Community Cupboard.
With grocery prices rising so high that some families can’t afford to make nutritious meals, Danielson and Fortin wanted to start a food bank. But after researching it and everything that goes into running one, they realized the undertaking was bigger than they had time for.
So, they started a community cupboard.
A food bank typically operates with volunteers and requires applications, while a community cupboard is open for anyone to use. Inspired by similar initiatives in British Columbia, the two women were motivated to establish one in Lundar. The enthusiastic turnout has exceeded their expectations.
Danielson and Fortin let the local residents know of the community cupboard through social media, initially making posts asking for shelving units, then for monetary or non-perishable food item donations.
Upon receiving a couple shelf donations, the ladies had to find a spot for the community cupboard. Many communities have them in busy public spaces like arenas or community halls, but Danielson didn’t want people worrying about privacy when gathering food they need, so they found a quieter spot to hold the food.
The community cupboard is held inside the Rural Municipality of Coldwell’s office at 35 Main Street in Lundar, near the senior’s resources space. From 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Monday to Friday, anyone in need can stop in and fill their bag with food.
The Lundar Community Cupboard received numerous monetary donations from local businesses when starting, but the real kickstarter came from community members Rob Einarson and Craig Sooley.
On their property outside of town, the pair established a Christmas display covering almost every inch of their large yard with lights and decorations.
There they held a Tin for the Bin event in support of the Lundar Community Cupboard, allowing people to come to their yard, take pictures with the displays and enjoy hot chocolate, coffee and baked goods for free.
Everyone who came had to bring a Tin for the Bin, and Danielson and Fortin were blown away by the response.
But Einarson’s and Sooley’s work didn’t stop there. Once everyone had left and the event was over, the two men opened the garage doors for the women to reveal two banquet-sized tables piled high with non-perishable food items.
“It was incredible,” Danielson said. “It just brought us to tears.”
It turned out Einarson and Sooley had contacted their friends across Canada and received numerous donations in support of the community cupboard. They took the money they raised and bought food items for the cupboard, stocking it full for its opening.
The Lundar Community Cupboard opened at the beginning of the year and is currently running, available for all in the community to use when they need it. To donate non-perishable food items or money to the Lundar Community Cupboard, people can contact Danielson or Fortin.
