Donations have continued to be made to the food bank in recent months. (File photo/paNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Community Support

‘It’s a time of reflection’: Lac La Ronge Food Bank not forgotten during closure

Jun 1, 2020 | 3:48 PM

There still no tentative date for the Lac La Ronge Food Bank to reopen, but the organization certainly hasn’t been forgotten.

The non-profit closed back in mid-March when the provincial government released a public health order resulting in the closure of non-essential businesses to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Out of an abundance of caution, the food bank also stopped providing services to the public and member Trudy Connor said there’s still no plan in place to do so.

“We’re in conversations now about what will it look like when it opens up whether it should be kept the same or if it should be slightly different,” she said. “COVID-19 will be here for a while, so how and where can we do this safely for everyone concerned, so I guess like lots of other groups, it’s a time of reflection.”

Although volunteers haven’t been able to provide regular services, they were able to fulfill an After the Bell grant through Food Banks Canada. Since students were out of school early, Connor noted kid-friendly food items were distributed to Pre-Cam Community School in La Ronge, Gordon Denny Community School in Air Ronge, as well as the Lac La Ronge Indian Band’s Senator Myles Venne School and Bell’s Point Elementary School.

The Lac La Ronge Food Bank also received a $1,000 donation last week through a partnership with Len Thompson Lures’ Fishing for Food Banks campaign and the La Ronge Wildlife Federation. Len Thompson Lures is a family owned and operated Canadian manufacturer with a production facility in Alberta.

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“It was amazing to have the La Ronge Wildlife Federation so eager to match our $500 donation to the La Ronge Food Bank,” said company President Brad Pallister in a media release. “Local anglers throughout the country have a strong history of helping both conservation and community initiatives. Their help gives this donation that much more impact.”

Men of the North have also stepped up to assist the food bank in the way of a bottle drive on the weekend. With Sarcan Recycling closed until June 15, the group was asking residents to leave their bags of cans and bottles along the street May 31 and volunteers would pick them up. All funds raised will be given to the food bank when Sarcan reopens.

“Individuals have also come forward and that has been quite remarkable,” Connor said. “People are still realizing the food bank is important even if we’re closed at the moment.”

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno