Central Food Network (CFN) delivered over $2.1 million worth of value to its clients across Highlands East via food packages, prepared meals, heating support, hydro assistance and free tax clinics in 2025-26.
Speaking at the organization’s annual general meeting May 28, executive director Tina Jackson said it had been another challenging 12 months for CFN as staff and volunteers tried to meet the needs of struggling locals.
During the previous fiscal year, which ran April 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026, CFN fed an average of 260 people per month. In total, they assisted 670 different people – representing 17 per cent of Highlands East’s population.
“That is significant and heartbreaking,” Jackson said. “Beyond food insecurity, we are seeing dramatic increases in demand for other support. In many ways, 2025 felt like we were hit with a tidal wave, particularly in the heat bank program where calls for support increased 58 per cent.”
After 25 years working in the sector, Jackson said she’s never seen things as desperate as they are today.
“Organizations like ours have stretched every available dollar, volunteer hour and ounce of goodwill to respond to the growing community need. But the scale and complexity of that need continues to evolve rapidly,” she said. “We expect concerns around food, fuel and energy affordability to deepen going into the latter part of 2026 and 2027.”
The organization is in good shape financially to handle the load. As of its year-end, CFN had $180,000 in cash reserves – a $49,000 increase from last year. While expenses climbed to $314,000 from $272,000 year over year, revenues also went up 18 per cent to $355,000.
Jackson said 81 per cent of CFN’s expenses were spent directly on programs, with 16 per cent on staff and three per cent on fundraising.
There were several key departures at the board level, with chair Nancy WrightLaking stepping down after seven years of service and Christine Sharp after five years. They have been replaced by new recruits Kathy Smith, Dan Chan and Nicole Baxter Bradford, though Jackson said there’s still room for more new blood.
“Board leadership can happen quietly behind the scenes, but those who put in the hours have a profound impact on their community. We’re always looking for people to step forward,” Jackson said.
Anyone interested can contact tina@ centralfoodnetwork.org.
