A community organization in Vankleek Hill has secured a long-term home, thanks to a handful of generous estate gifts received over the past several years. The Vankleek Hill Food Bank has purchased 38 Main Street East formerly the National Bank Building and will be moving in later this year. The Vankleek Hill Thrift Store, which sells donated items to fund Food Bank operations, will also be relocating to the new building.
“This purchase would never have been possible without the remarkable generosity of those who chose to support the Food Bank through legacy giving,” said Food Bank Chair Jen Beauchesne. “These gifts have allowed us to step beyond our daily food services and make a long-term investment in the future of food security in our community.”
The Food Bank had been renting commercial space on Main Street on a five-year lease, and as that lease approached its end, the nine-person Board of Directors began considering the need for a more permanent location.
“Moving creates a difficult disruption of routine for our Food Bank clients. We’ve experienced this challenge a few times over the years. Our hope this time is that we’ve moved home at last and will be able to be a recognizable space the community can count on,” said Beauchesne.
The new location will allow the Thrift Store to display more donated items in a less cramped and more accessible space. The building also offers expanded parking and improved privacy of access for clients. The Food Bank Board hopes the new location will also support future growth and change for the Food Bank, so it is poised to meet changing needs in the population it serves.
“Demand for food bank services continues to grow locally, along with the cost of food and basic necessities. We are looking to put down roots in a building that provides stability for our services now while giving us room to grow in the future,” Beauchesne noted.
The Board notes that while these estate gifts have made it possible to purchase a permanent home, they do not replace the need for ongoing community support. The Food Bank continues to rely on donations, fundraising, thrift store revenue, and volunteers to meet the growing needs of the community.
The transition to the new location is expected to take place following interior renovations to separate food bank operations from the retail space. Updates will be shared with the community as plans progress.
The Vankleek Hill Food Bank is a 100 per cent volunteer-run and community-funded not-for-profit organization serving the communities of Vankleek Hill and East Hawkesbury, including St-Bernardin, St-Eugène, and St-Anne-de-Prescott. Its mission is to alleviate food poverty in these communities. It is currently located at 124 Main Street East in Vankleek Hill and operates a Thrift Store at the same location, where donated items are resold to help fund food bank operations.
