Community pantries give open access to groceries, with some challenges

On today’s show, we hear from some of the organizers behind the region’s community food pantries, operations that make food and groceries available to those in need on a self-serve basis daily. Despite some challenges with misuse, the pantries are filling an important need in the community, say Wendy Keats of Station 8 Community Fridge, and Jacqueline and Tammy Fahey of the Sackville Community Sharing Cupboard.

Plus in briefs, Mount Allison’s music department welcomes its 5th annual Bragg Artist in Residence this week, and Amherst town council takes another step to approving a new six-storey development in its downtown. … Continue

‘Nobody should go hungry’: new community cupboard gives 24/7 access to food and supplies

Organizers Tammy Fahey and Jacqueline Fahey stand beside a new Community Cupboard, with free food and supplies, just behind the wheelchair ramp at the Sackville Commons on Lorne Street. Photo: Erica Butler

The Sackville Food Bank is expanding access with a new Community Cupboard, which offers food and supplies to anyone in need, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Longtime food bank volunteers and sisters Tammy Fahey and Jacqueline Fahey are the team spearheading the project, which is currently in its pilot form, with a small re-purposed cupboard set up outside the Sackville Commons Co-op on Lorne Street.

Hear Tammy Fahey and Jacqueline Fahey on Tantramar Report:

“It’s just a cupboard where people can come and they can take some food,” says Jacqueline Fahey, “instead of having to wait maybe until Wednesday when the food bank is open. It just makes it a lot easier.”

In addition to the new Community Cupboard, the food bank is also adding an evening pick up time to its schedule, to make access easier for people with work or school commitments during the day. According to data from Food Banks Canada, more than half of food insecure households rely on employment income, meaning scheduling matters. “A lot of people are working,” says Fahey, they can’t get out [during the day.]” Starting next week on January 17, the Sackville Food Bank will be open Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 7:30pm.

In the meantime, the Community Cupboard is stocked with weather-proof dry goods like cereal, soup and pasta mixes, and granola bars.… Continue