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Vol. 18, No. 50, Wednesday, November 8, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Lamont County Councillor Woitas donates $1/acre to food bank - $2,837 total Town and County elected officials invited to dinner and tour the food bank facility BY JANA SEMENIUK Lamont County Councillor Neil Woitas presented the County of Lamont Food Bank with a cheque for $2,837, $1 per acre, on Nov 1 from his family farm and challenged all other farmers in the area to do the same. “I was thinking of ideas (about) how we can maybe do some fundraising. Five years ago, on the farm it wasn’t that good but the last few years have been pretty good so we thought we would try something,” said Woitas. “Our family has donated $1 an acre so it’s $2,837.” Woitas said he is hoping to inspire other local farmers to also think about doing the same. “What we’re looking for is to get some more farmers going,” he said. “Things have been good the last few years, so good things are happening. We’ll get the challenge out there and see what happens.” Woitas presented the cheque during the Food Bank’s Warm Your Heart event where Lamont town and county elected officials were invited to tour the food bank, enjoy a chili dinner and discuss the food bank’s need for additional space. Those in attendance, along with food bank volunteers, were Town of Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Dawn Neilsen, councillors Jody Foulds, Dave Taylor, Al Harvey, Colleen Holowaychuk, and Linda Sieker in addition to Lamont County councillor Neil Woitas and deputy reeve Dan Warawa. Food bank treasurer Chris Mintenko said the current space utilized by the food bank is 800 square feet and attached to the Lamont Alliance
Lamont County councilor Neil Woitas (R) presents a check for $2,837, a dollar an acre, to County of Lamont Food Bank volunteer Jason Wytrykush on Nov. 1. Woitas put out a challenge for other local farmers to do the same. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
Church. Pastor Darren Anderson, who also serves as the food bank secretary, said that while the arrangement is currently working, the food bank will need more room the busier they get. “The church is quite happy with giving the food bank as much space as they need and working with the food bank, but in the end, unfortunately at some point they will probably have to move out because it’s tight in there,” he said. County of Lamont Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) program coordinator and food bank intake clerk Melissa Shiach said the food bank serves a large number of Lamont County residents. “The County of Lamont Food Bank for this year, has fed 4.2 percent of Lamont County's entire population, including all of its urbans,” she said,
800 square feet it’s really impressive.” Perrin said he was also surprised to learn the County of Lamont food bank was only 10 years old. “Hearing the food bank was such a young organization was surprising to me,” he said, adding the possibility that the food bank could potentially be added to the town council’s list of committees. “I guess it’s one of the reasons this meeting is taking place tonight which is great. I know the Town of Lamont council has been supporting them unofficially for the past few years, but having representation on the board, I think will help both organizations keep those lines of communication open and help this organization take this to the next level.” County of Lamont Food Bank board chair Jody Zachoda said that currently there are no fundraising plans for a new building although there could be in the new year.
adding the percentages did not include Christmas hampers. “In September alone, we fed 2 percent of Lamont County's entire population, including urbans.” Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin said touring the facility was an eyeopener and he is looking forward to strengthening the town’s relationship with the food bank. “It was an eye-openCounty of Lamont Food Bank board chair Jody Zachoda er to tour it. They work points out the tight space on shelving inside the food in such tight quarters bank to Lamont County Deputy Reeve Daniel Warawa and what these volun- during their Warm Your Heart event on Nov. 1. Standing teers do with so little is to the left of Jody is food bank volunteer Valerie amazing,” he said. Nimchuk and to Warawa's right (L-R) Lamont County “They are able to Councillor Neil Woitas, Town of Lamont Councillor Jody feed so many people in Foulds and Al Harvey. Photo: Jana Semeniuk