History

Key Dates and Events in the History of the Food Bank

1984: The First Food Collection
As the result of a study conducted by the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph to determine the greatest unmet needs in the City of Kingston, and out of their need to exercise their ministry to attend to the sick and the poor, the Sisters began the Food Bank in 1984.

The first food collection was received on June 17, 1984 in four Catholic Churches. After the donated food was counted and sorted at St. Joseph Regional House in Amherstview, it was forwarded to St. Vincent de Paul Society for their emergency food distribution program.

1985-1986: Develops and Expands Food Collections
The need to distribute greater quantities of food over a wider area was expressed by many groups in Kingston. It was necessary to develop and expand the food collection program by networking with other Churches and groups and to heighten awareness of the Partners In Mission program in the community. The first full time employee was hired to address this goal. Partners in Mission Food Bank opened in the Anglican Church, the Church of the Redeemer on November 6 1985, the feast day of Jerome Le Royer de la Dauversiere, the founder of the RHSJs. A small depot was maintained at St. Joseph Regional House to meet the needs in the Amherstview area.

Although area Churches remained a steady source of food, several other sources emerged. For example, in 1986, Hotel Dieu Hospital sponsored the first food blitz covering the greater Kingston area.

1989: Employee and Volunteer Numbers Build
The Food Bank moved from Church of the Redeemer renting 412 Bagot Street for $1,100 per month. Considerable repair work was required to make it suitable. Donations of freezers and refrigerators were received and the move was made in April 1989.

By this time, there were 5 employees and numerous volunteers who were responsible for sorting, stocking the shelves and preparing the food baskets for pickup. The volunteers continue to be an integral and vital component of this operation.

1991: Demand Continues to Grow and the Food Bank Responds
During this time, demand on the Food Bank rose. A van was donated by the Telephone Pioneers and another by the local Kiwanis Club. A volunteer, who had provided administrative duties in the office, was hired, initially, as a part time client support worker and was soon offered the position full time to accommodate the growing number of clients. Manual record keeping could not keep pace with the need. New computers were added and a customized data base developed.

1995: Dramatic Rise in the Need for Food Bank Assistance
In 1995 major cut-backs by the Provincial Government had immediate and far-reaching negative impacts on both food distribution and food/financial collections. With the immediate and dramatic rise in the need for food bank assistance, the direct result was food banks across the Province were forced to apply client eligibility criteria. The resulting changes were difficult to implement and required a great deal of communication between the Food Bank and the public, particularly clients and other social service organizations. Some individuals who had donated to the Food Bank now found themselves clients.

1997: Food Bank is Separately Incorporated
In 1997, Partners In Mission Food Bank was separately incorporated by Letters Patent under the laws of the Province of Ontario. A community Advisory Board was set up to advise the Members and the Directors of the Corporation.

1998: Achieves Registered Charity Status
In 1998, the Corporation received confirmation from Revenue Canada, Charities Division of the qualification of Partners In Mission Food Bank’s status as a registered charity. Prior to this, income tax receipts had been issued by one of the RHSJ corporations, the Marie Morin Foundation, which had encompassed this programme.

2001: Brought Under the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph Health System
In June 2001, Partners In Mission Food Bank was brought under the umbrella of the Religious Hospitallers of St. Joseph Health System. This latter organization serves, in part, to assist each of the corporations sponsored by the RHSJs, to effectively carry out their responsibilities under Canon Law as ministries of the Church. It also assists each separately incorporated entity to address and maintain their corporate status.

2003: Purchases Current Larger Location
In 2003 the Food Bank purchased a 7,200 square foot building at 140 Hickson Avenue which was more suitable for its needs and meant that a mortgage replaced monthly rent. A large bequest received in 2005 was used to payout the mortgage in 2006.