Ken Mott remembers what it was like before Wilberforce had a food bank.
People were struggling, often turning to family, friends, and neighbours to put food on the table. This was pre-2002. Before two local women started a movement that still stands strong today.
Chris Foster-London and Clara Burt ushered in a new era in Highlands East. Their grassroots initiative, where they would anonymously leave food and money on the doorstep of families they knew to be struggling, took hold. They started a part-time operation at the outreach centre in Highland Grove – the community’s first real food bank.
Mott was one of the early beneficiaries.
“I had a heart attack and was in the hospital for a while. When I got home, there was a cheque for $50 and food sitting on my table these two ladies had dropped off. I decided I wanted to be a part of this, do my bit and help wherever I could,” he said.
That was a little over 20 years ago. Mott is now recognized as one of the longest tenured volunteer with Central Food Network – the organization that runs the food banks in Wilberforce and Cardiff.
It’s now a “well-oiled machine”, said Mott – who manages the food hub in Wilberforce, and its community cooks program. But it wasn’t always that way.
For the first couple of years, Mott said the food bank relied on community donations. He would get calls from Ontario Works, telling him there was food somewhere that he could go pick up, so he’d hit the road. Mott did his job with a smile on his face, realizing the difference he was making.
Highlands East township got involved in the early 2010s. The township donated land behind Lloyd Watson Memorial Arena, and the food bank was opened in late 2015.
It’s open two days per week – on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. People are welcomed inside, given a shopping cart, and left to roam for non-perishable foods. Milk, produce, and meats are also available from the food banks’ fridge and freezer.
Mott said the food bank is busier than it has ever been – it’s not uncommon for him to find 10 people lined up at the door on days they’re open. He said around 30 people will stop by during opening hours, from 1 to 3 p.m.
“The price of everything has gone up, so it’s no wonder people are struggling. And with the struggle comes extra demand, extra dependency on the food bank,” Mott said.
Mott spends multiple days a week at the food bank, helping to sort and put away food, while he also assists with the delivery program.
Asked what has kept him going these past 20-plus years, Mott said it’s always been about the people.
“Seeing the smiles on faces when they’re walking out the door – for me, that’s what it’s all about. Making a difference one person at a time,” Mott said.
