Help community during state of emergency by supporting food providers

As the community continues to deal with the current COVID-19 pandemic and state of emergency, it has led many to ask, ‘what can I do to help?’

In response to the groundswell of those looking to do what they can to help the community get through this difficult time of uncertainty, the City of Kingston is suggesting that the best way to help is to support the emergency food providers who are providing nutritious meals to hundreds of people daily. And the best way to do so is to donate to these organizations online, the City said in a press release on Tuesday, Apr. 7, 2020.

“I’ve been so heartened to hear how our local charities and other agencies that provide food have been flooded with kind offers of help,” Mayor Bryan Paterson said in a statement. “Given the need for physical distancing protocols, they are unfortunately unable to accommodate many of these generous offers. At this point in time, I’m encouraging everyone who is willing and able to help to make an online donation to the local provider of their choice.”

The local organizations that assist in providing food are being stretch due to extra demands, the City said. And, while they cannot offer their traditional services due to social and physical distancing guidelines, these organizations are working collaboratively to provide 500+ take-away and delivered meals and food hampers. This includes organizations helping with food security throughout the City of Kingston and Frontenac County.

The City suggests helping the organization of your choice, as listed below, or making a contribution to the United Way of KFL&A’s COVID Response Fund or Community Foundation for Kingston and Area’s Smart and Caring Community Fund. The latter two organizations assist a range of organizations that are providing services to the community during the COVID-19 state of emergency.

Local emergency food providers

• Partners in Mission Food Bank – food hampers
• St. Vincent de Paul – bagged lunches
• Lionhearts Inc. – daily take home evening meals
• Martha’s Table – take home lunches
• Lunch by George – take home lunches
• Salvation Army – food hampers/pantry
• Loving Spoonful – assisting with accessing and distributing food
• Food Sharing Project – food hampers to families of students
• North Frontenac Food Bank – Sharbot Lake – food hampers
• South Frontenac Community Services – Food Bank and Meals on Wheels for South Frontenac and Rural Kingston