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Behind the Scenes: A Tour of Gleaners Food Bank

By Amanda Lorbetski [9]

BELLEVILLE – Usage at Gleaners Food Bank [10] is up nine percent from last year, according to director of operations Susanne Quinlan [11].

The Belleville-based food bank is often the place people turn to when their financial situation changes, she said.

“Our increase has gone up about nine percent. Basically what that is is client usage,” she said. “There has been lay-offs in the city and people may have found other jobs, but they’re not sustainable wages. Sustainable wages is where you work one job and it pays your rent, your car payment, you know, you have money for your food and activities for your children.”

The food bank at 25 Wallbridge Crescent [12] also houses a warehouse for food that is distributed to eight local rural food banks. The Michelangelo Cafe, a comforting place in the front of the building where food bank users can get a coffee and snack during their visit, is run by some of its 150 volunteers.

QNet News reporter Amanda Lorbetski [13] took a tour of Gleaners to learn how all of its components works together, with volunteer coordinator Pat Maracle-Bowers [11].

 

For the full report aired on 91X [14], listen below:

http://www.qnetnews.ca/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/gleaners-profile-amanda-lorbetski-nov-13.mp3 [15]