Halifax food bank solves shortage
The Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank was less than a week away from running out of food, but a supply problem involving food from Sobeys grocery stores was fixed Tuesday.
The shortage began at a Allied Reclamation warehouse in Dartmouth that sorts and redistributes surplus or damaged Sobeys products to food banks.
Until last month, 80 per cent of the Parker Street's supply came from the warehouse. The deliveries had suddenly stopped.
"We looked at our supplies this morning, and we're down to the place where we could only operate for seven days," said Mel Boutilier, founder of the Parker Street outlet. "We informed our staff this morning that within seven days we'd have to close the food bank."
Boutilier sent a letter to Sobeys last week to find out what happened to their shipments. About 300 families use the food bank each week.
"We were patiently waiting, just hoping that one day we could get a reply to tell us if we could get product from their warehouse," said Boutilier.
Food misdirected
The food from Sobeys was going to Feed Nova Scotia on the Bedford Highway. From there, it was distributed to New Brunswick, P.E.I. and a network of Nova Scotia food banks of which Parker Street isn't a member.
The head of Feed Nova Scotia said it wasn't her intention to take food away from Parker Street.
"We're not into taking away food," said Dianne Swinemar, executive director of Feed Nova Scotia. "Our mandate is to share product and give food out to our members. Again it's all based on hunger population, it's all based on a fair distribution system."
After phone calls to Sobeys and Allied Reclamation, there was a solution. "A representative of Sobeys called and told me there was a miscommunication," said Boutilier.
A Parker Street food bank truck was sent out right away. Boutilier said he's very grateful to Sobeys and Allied Reclamation for their continued support.