A grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) has been crucial to what will be improved services for people and families experiencing food insecurity in Hastings and Prince Edward counties.
The Community Development Council of Quinte (CDC) received an $85,000 grant helping them expand and change their services during the difficult COVID-19 pandemic.
At a thank you event Tuesday, at the CDC’s Belleville headquarters, Bay of Quinte riding MPP Todd Smith said the items and services provided by the organization were crucial to the vulnerable population in the two counties.
“Governments can spend a lot of money to get something accomplished. It’s great the Ontario Trillium Foundation provides funding to the experts on a local issue, such as the CDC.”
The Community Development Council of Quinte has previously been supported by the OTF.
The grant allowed CDC to expand and change its service delivery during the COVID period but also allowed it to hire a marketing firm to update its website and hire a fundraising coordinator to boost donations.
When COVID-19 hit, donations dropped from around $75,000 to only $29,000. That, at a time the demand for the CDC’s services increased.
CDC Executive Director Ruth Ingersoll explained the money will soon also allow people living anywhere in the two counties to order their Good Food and Good Baby boxes much more easily. Currently only those living in Belleville or Trenton can order online and Ingersoll said even that process was slow and outdated for its needs.
“Anybody can order online which will save them time. They don’t have to transport to one of our depots to make their order and pay, they’ll be able to do it online and then still go to their community depot to pick up.”
The updated website will be ready for use within the next few months.
