A new food distribution centre is on the way for Belleville.
Gleaners Food Bank Executive Director Peter Kerr explained in a presentation to Hastings County’s Community and Human Services Committee meeting on Wednesday that they aim to have the centre up and running by New Year’s Day, 2027.
He said they plan to prioritize previously funded Homelessness Prevention Program food security programs with this initiative.
County staff had originally come up with this idea, envisioning a collaborative approach to equitable distribution of food across the region.
Gleaners applied to take on the initiative and received $500,000 in startup funding.
It aims to foster a cohesive food system of collection, storage, processing, allocation and redistribution.
Encompassed within that system is a program involving the “rescuing” of food.
Kerr explained both raw and prepared food that could go to waste will be retrieved from restaurants, businesses, and farmers. It will then be transferred to organizations for redistribution.
He added refrigerated food lockers will be placed in indoor public spaces, such as libraries, to give clients easier access to food.
The committee received the presentation and look forward to a progress report within the next six months from Gleaners.
