Chris Riddell is in the process of filling out paperwork he feels he has no choice but to do if the Mustard Seed Street Church hopes to continue serving people in need.
For the first time in the non-profit societyB次元官网网址檚 history, the executive director is taking out a collateral mortgage on the Mustard SeedB次元官网网址檚 Hope Farm Healing Centre north of Duncan, where drug addicts go to recover.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 something IB次元官网网址檇 never thought IB次元官网网址檇 see,B次元官网网址� Riddell said of mortgaging the property. B次元官网网址淭he coffers are bare. WeB次元官网网址檙e doing that as a backup.B次元官网网址�
The Mustard Seed, which also operates a food bank in Victoria, has seen the worst decline in monetary donations in six years. And since it receives no government funding, the societyB次元官网网址檚 already tight $2.2-million annual operating budget may have to be further trimmed.
To make matters worse, the society has exhausted its $100,000 rainy-day fund to cover operational expenses, such as heating and lighting bills and putting gas in vans used to pick up food donations at grocery stores.
B次元官网网址淔ood-wise weB次元官网网址檙e holding our own, but at the same time you canB次元官网网址檛 take a turnip and put it in the gas tank of a vehicle and expect the trucks to run,B次元官网网址� said Brent Palmer, Mustard Seed food bank director.
B次元官网网址淚 guess, long run, if we donB次元官网网址檛 get the finances in then weB次元官网网址檒l seriously have to look at making cutbacks.B次元官网网址�
Every month, the food bank feeds an average of 6,800 people a month who come from across Greater Victoria.
Times are tough for everyone. People are being more frugal with their financial donations, but Riddell hopes the community will help in the coming months, just as it did by contributing about $1 million in donations late last year.
The food bank just launched the beginning of its Christmas campaign yesterday (Oct. 13) with the third annual 48-hour Great Canadian Food Fight, a food-drive challenge that involves Halifax, Regina and Victoria.
Every dollar generated and non-perishable food item collected will help bolster the bank balance and top up the shelves.
Food Fight donations can be dropped off at all major grocery stores. For details or to donate cash online, please visit mustardseed.ca.
