Lieutenant governor visits Tache food bank, makes delivery

Lt. Gov. Anita Neville visited the Tache Food Resource Centre (TFRC) on June 28 in order to drop off 570 pounds of food.

“It’s not an easy choice where to give the products because the need is great, but we knew of Tache food bank. We knew it was well run, well thought out, and I was pleased to come to this community and deliver the food here,” said Neville.

Neville’s delivery consisted of fresh produce, bread and popcorn. Community Helpers Unite heard about the lieutenant governor’s Sharing Hope donation and also dropped off 900 pounds of food to the TFRC.

Since its inception in December 2023, the lieutenant governor’s Sharing Hope initiative has donated a total of 2,065 pounds of food to four food banks in Winnipeg (Agape Table) and in the rural communities of Carberry, Beausejour, and now the RM of Tache.

The lieutenant governor started her initiative after reading an article in the Winnipeg Free Press about a need for items for the Christmas Cheer Board. Since then, she has asked all who visit Government House to donate a tin for the bin.

“I wish the day would come when you didn’t exist. When that need wasn’t there, but unfortunately it is and we are all pitching in to do however, whatever we can. This office lends itself to doing it and relatively simply,” she told the crowd that gathered for the donation.

TFRC has been in operation for 21 years since its inception as a food bank in 2003 later joining with the Tache Christmas Hampers to form one organization. It serves the communities of Lorette, Landmark, Linden, Dufresne, Rosewood, Ste Genevieve, and Ross. While it served four families when it first opened, it now serves 95 families or 294 people accessing its services every two weeks.

“The need is growing every year. We’ve grown about 25 percent especially during COVID that number doubled very quickly and now we’re on a steady incline about 25 to 35 percent every year,” said TFRC president Alison Fox.

Tache Mayor Armand Poirier said inflation, immigration, and refugees are some of the reasons why Tache’s food bank has seen an uptick in people.

“It’s up to us to step up to the plate and ensure that they are fed and lodged properly,” he said.

Tache food resource centre is always looking for donations either monetary or food and it is also looking for volunteers as well. To make a donation, or to contact the food bank, please email tachefoodrc@gmail.com.