Mission
What we do, and why
About Us
The Killarney and Area Foodbank (to use our full name) serves the municipality of Killarney, Manitoba, and local surrounding areas. This includes, but is not limited to the RM of Killarney Turtle Mountain, RM of Prairie Lakes, and RM of Cartwright Roblin.
It provides food, life necessities, and educational resources concerning nutrition, to those who are in need.
The foodbank was founded in 1993, at the suggestion of the Rev. Brent Denham and his wife, Ruth, and will celebrate its 30th year of operation in 2023.
The foodbank is registered as a charity, with the business number 892825449RR0001
Our Mission
"The Killarney and Area Foodbank is a faith-based, non-profit organization dedicated to provide access to healthy foods for individuals in need, on a short term basis, in a manner that provides and maintains dignity, builds health and community and challenges inequality.
The foodbank shall be carried out without purpose or gain for its board members and any profit to the organization shall be used solely to promote its mission.
The foodbank shall accept monetary donations from individuals and groups and co-operate with other charitable initiatives in the community."
Food Bank Statistics in Canada
According to the 2019 Hunger Count by Food Banks Canada:
Canadian foodbanks helped 1,084,386 people nationwide
5,570,329 meals were served through meal programs
Manitoba foodbanks helped 82,067 people
It's important to note that:
Foodbank use in Manitoba is up 33% since 2016
47% of foodbank recipients in Manitoba were children (up 4% since 2016)
1 in 8 households accessing food banks are employed, 17.3% received provincial disability support while 1 in 11 receive pension income.
Foodbanks are often seen as a last resort, with people using up savings, selling belongings, and racking up credit card debts, before they will visit a foodbank.
In short, poverty and food insecurity is increasing, our part of Manitoba is not immune, and children are those most likely to suffer the effects.
Also, although the circumstances leading to foodbank use can happen to anyone, a stigma can be attached to people who make use of a foodbank.
So our goal is to help anyone in our community who needs it, when they need it, and without passing judgement or causing a loss of dignity.
Board Members
The Killarney Foodbank is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of five executive members (Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, Secretary and Operations Manager) and a seven members at large.
The Board meets once a month, and holds an Annual General Meeting each April.
Any resident of Killarney and surrounding area - including foodbank customers - may be eligible to be a member of The Board.
The current board, as determined at the 2022 AGM, consists of:
Chair: Agnieszka Lamparska
Vice Chair: Loren Jones
Treasurer: Marie Jensen
Secretary (and Customer Advocate): Giselle Beaupré
Operations Manager: Petchie Hawkins