Hamilton Community News - Oct 28th 2010

Area Rotary Clubs banding together to create Capital Fund to assist Hamilton Food Share

The Rotary Club of Burlington- Lakeshore is well known for serving up mouthwatering ribs to
hunderds of thousands of visitors each Labour Day.

The popular Ribfest features some of the best ribs from some of North America's top ribbers. It also serves as a fundraiser, and more than $2 million has been donated back to the community by the Rotary Club of Burlington- Lakeshore.

As part of its ongoing commitment to help address hunger and poverty in Hamilton, the Burlington- based Rotary Club is spearheading a capital campaign to assist Hamilton Food Share.

"In discussions with various charities and food banks we have come to the conclusion that strengthening the capacity of the emergency food system would benefit many programs that are faced with increased need amidst shrinking resources," said Jim Bridle, co-chair of the club's Community Service Committee.

That's why the Burlington- Lakeshore club has put up $20,000 to kickstart a major campaign among the area's 14 Rotary Clubs.

The goal is to create a Capital Fund for a five-year period, to assist Hamilton Food Share with its equipment and other costs.

Bridle said it was important for area clubs to help address poverty and hunger in Hamilton.

"We believe together we have a stronger ability to assist in the delivery of hunger relief programs as they attempt to adapt to the peaks and valleys of demand," he said. "To maintain the level of food in the system and to build new sources that will increase food supplies, local programs will need assistance in the form of capital funds that will support
infrastructure in the areas of food acquisition, shipping, receiving, storage and transportation. The fund will bring together collective support and commitment of our local rotary clubs. Support from many local Rotary clubs will assist a charitable system of many hunger relief programs. Its philosophy is embedded in a shared collective approach supporting a collective response.

"The latest hunger reports suggest that Hamilton has upwards of 26 per cent of people accessing food banks every month, representing over 19,000 people. This surpasses the national average of 19 per cent and provincial average of 20 per cent.

The Capital Fund will be used to support the work of food banks and hot meal program providers by funding capital acquisition, improvement, repair and replacement costs associated with the distribution of emergency food to people in need.

“Our thrust is to focus on the Hamilton Food Share organization,” said Bridle. “They currently raise over two million pounds of food annually and directly interface with nine organizations that represent 10 food banks and six hot meal programs. Food raised by Hamilton Food Share is distributed to its members, who include Good Shepherd Centres, Mission Services of Hamilton, Neighbour to Neighbour, St. Matthews House, Wesley Urban Ministries, Living Rock, Welcome Inn, The Salvation Army and Stoney Creek Food Bank. Additionally, Hamilton Food Share works and shares resources and supplies with Partnership West Food Bank in Burlington.

The Burlington-Lakeshore Rotary Club is meeting with other area Rotary Clubs to raise $65,000 per year for five years.

The Rotary Club of Burlington- Lakeshore has committed to $100,000 over five years. The goal is to partner with 14 Rotary Clubs from the Burlington-Hamilton area each donating $3,500 per year.

Hamilton Food Share executive director Joanne Santucci applauded the initiative. “This joint venture will strengthen our efforts to support local emergency food programs by making small capital improvements that would increase distribution capacity and improve the quantity, quality, and variety of food distributed at their program,” she said. “The unique aspect of this initiative by the Rotary Clubs is that its philosophy is embedded in a shared
collective approach strengthening a collective community response to feed hungry people locally. ”