Belleville Community and Family Services Launches Meal Delivery Program
The homeless population in Belleville will receive much needed support from The Salvation Army as healthy meals will be delivered directly to those living in tent encampments.
This initiative was made possible by a $39,000 Innovation Grant from The Salvation Army, Canada and Bermuda Territory. The funds for the program, which started in March, will reduce the number of people faced with food insecurity.
Approximately 50 individuals living in two tent cities along Highway 401 can expect healthy meals and warm beverages hand delivered every Monday by The Salvation Army staff and volunteers. The meals are being transported using a new Emergency Disaster Services van to bring hope to those experiencing homelessness.
“Homelessness touches every community across Ontario and its impacts are deep. The Innovation Grant funding will help us assist those living in tent encampments and build transformative relationships, which will lead to further dialogue and our ability to assess and provide further supports,” says Connie Goodsell, Director of Community and Family Services with The Salvation Army in Belleville. “Our new EDS van is a tremendous blessing because we can meet the homeless population where they live and make a direct positive impact.”
Community and Family Services is in downtown Belleville and the two tent encampments are located north of the city. The distance proved to be challenging for those in need of a meal, as many travel by bike or walk.
“We really hope to make a deep connection with the residents of these tent encampments by bringing a strong ministerial aspect, as well as providing food, coffee or tea, warm clothing and other resources they might need. We’re also there to be a listening ear,” Connie explains.
The demand for support is significantly increasing in Belleville. The Community and Family Services currently feeds 100 individuals each night at a meal service that operates five days a week from their downtown location. Food preparation and dinner service is handled almost entirely by volunteers, as are the deliveries to the tent encampments.
Connie says the need for mental health and addictions support is on the rise as well, and the pandemic has only made the matter worse. In time, CFS has plans to partner with supporting organizations specializing in mental health, opioid addiction and housing supports to better serve those living in tent.
“We’re always thinking of how best to serve our community’s most vulnerable,” said Connie. “You want to do the best you can to help out as many people as you can. One of the concerns is that these folks are being underserved. I’m excited and grateful that we can now provide this service to the community and bring a little bit of hope and caring to those who need it most,” Connie says.
To provide financial support to The Salvation Army, donations can be made online at www.salvationarmy.ca or by calling 1-800-SAL-ARMY, where donations can also be directed to a specific program or location.
