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Nova Scotia Community·Portraits of Kindness

A day at Feed Nova Scotia's warehouse: A photo essay on giving, kindness and community

When photographer Alvero Wiggins dropped by the Feed Nova Scotia warehouse in Dartmouth, N.S., he found a buzz of activity in preparation for the holiday season. See what he captured through his lens.

Volunteers lend support to growing need during this holiday season

Alvero Wiggins · for CBC ·
Two women, one with blonde hair one with black hair packing boxes at a food bank. One lady wearing a black hoodie and one with a blue jacket.
Erin McNutt, left, and Joanne Lawen Mrakic pack boxes for the holidays at Feed Nova Scotia's warehouse in Dartmouth, N.S. They were volunteering with colleagues from Paramount Management. (Alvero Wiggins)

This holiday season I had the privilege and pleasure of visiting Feed Nova Scotia, a pillar of food security that has been in operation for over 30 years and now supports 140 member agencies, all food banks.

The first thing that stood out to me when I arrived at the Feed Nova Scotia warehouse was the friendliness of the staff and volunteers. Karen Theriault, director of development and communications, welcomed me with kind words and a warm "under the mask" smile. 

After a quick tour, I got the chance to take photos and chat with some volunteers. These kind-hearted individuals are making a difference in people's lives everyday. 

Two people, a mother and her teenage son (with long hair in ponytail), mother with grey hair loading food into cardboard boxes at a food bank. He is in a yellow t-shirt she is wearing a purple shirt.
Patrick Ball and his mom Julie Ball volunteer at the Feed Nova Scotia warehouse throughout the year. (Alvero Wiggins)

Their selfless natures and willingness to help strangers deeply moved me. While chatting with mother-and-son volunteers, Julie and Patrick Ball, I shared a story from my own childhood.

Growing up, my family needed extra support around the holidays. My mom was a single, full-time working wonder woman. She was raising five children by herself. 

Woman in a grey hat and donning a blue shirt moves a load of boxes on a trolly at a food bank warehouse.
Feed Nova Scotia's Wendy Jordan moves a load of donated food through the warehouse. (Alvero Wiggins)

My family used to receive Christmas food and gift boxes like the ones being assembled during my visit to the warehouse. 

When I was about 12 years old, inside one of the boxes we received was a copy of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. My mom, knowing how much I loved to read, gave me the book. I didn't realize it at that time, but the support my family received and the gift of that book helped to keep me out of trouble. 

Witnessing the acts of kindness on this visit to Feed Nova Scotia brought me back to my childhood days and I realized the importance of the food bank, especially this time of year.

Woman with black hair tied back wearing a blue jacket and blue rubber gloves inspects a large carton of apples at the food bank.
Angela Loaiza arrived in Canada from Chile two years ago. She volunteers weekly at Feed Nova Scotia. (Alvero Wiggins)
Woman, wearing a pink mask, with brown reddish hair, blue shirt and jeans packs a box of food at the food bank.
Heather Nowlan packs a box of groceries at the warehouse. (Alvero Wiggins)
Woman wearing light blue medical mask and a beige winter coat. Standing before a blue map of Nova Scotia She's wheeling a trolly of cardboard boxes filled with food.
Frances Clark delivers boxes of food to Feed Nova Scotia. She did a food drive with her colleagues at the Dartmouth General Hospital. (Alvero Wiggins)
German Shepherd getting a hug from a young woman. The dog is wearing a green kerchief.
Visits from Luna help keep spirits bright as the team at Feed Nova Scotia work hard to meet the increased need for support during the holiday season. Luna is shown with Ashlan Potts. (Alvero Wiggins)
Man with greying hair wearing a green medical mask and grey sweatshirt. Stands next too a large shipment of bags of flour.
Jeffrey May unwraps a load of donated flour at the Feed Nova Scotia warehouse. (Alvero Wiggins)
Man with short hair in blue jacket stands next to large bags of onions and carrots at the food bank warehouse.
Tyler Wilcox stands next to bags of vegetables in the large fridge at the Feed Nova Scotia warehouse. (Alvero Wiggins)


Portraits of Kindness is a special series of photo essays. CBC Atlantic asked local photographers to visit a food bank and capture acts of kindness through their lens. The project coincides with CBC's Make The Season Kind campaign in support of food banks in Atlantic Canada.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alvero Wiggins

Contributor

Alvero Wiggins is a Halifax-based photographer and father of four who is deeply rooted in his community of Uniacke Square in north end Halifax. Alvero has a lifelong love of taking photographs, travelling and growing food. You can find him on Instagram at @an_abstract_vision.

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