Food for Thought Blog

Fresh Approaches: Winter 2024

March 11^th, 2024Fresh Approaches Newsletter

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EXECUTIVE MESSAGE

Letter from Kim

Dear Neighbour,

Thank you! Your support means everything to people struggling with the dramatically increased cost of food in Waterloo region.

Your gifts provide fresh, nutritious food to hungry children. You help seniors who are living on a fixed income, and hard-working parents who simply can’t keep up with the cost of living.

Your ongoing support means we can keep on meeting the need.

And the need for food support in Waterloo region continues to grow. The number of new households seeking food support in 2023 rose by 116% over 2022. That’s more than double the number of households seeking food assistance for the first time.

This Winter issue of your Fresh Approaches newsletter features a story showcasing the many faces of hunger. You’ll read stories of people from all walks of life who are being helped thanks to your generosity. Hunger can impact anyone at anytime.

You’ll also read a moving tribute to our, Wendi Campbell.

We depend on your kindness and your generosity to provide fresh, nutritious food to everyone in our region who needs help.

In heartfelt gratitude to you,

Kim Wilhelm

CEO

The Many Faces of Hunger

How your generosity helps people from all backgrounds, ethnicities and cultures.

Everyone has a story. In September of 2023 we started sharing stories about food insecurity in Waterloo region. Our goal was to raise awareness and educate our community that hunger can happen to anyone, anywhere, at any time.

As one of our generous supporters, you likely already know this. Hunger affects many people in our community – and it’s affecting more and more people every day.

Food insecurity impacts people with jobs, with children, with houses and other support systems. It also affects those struggling with homelessness, addiction, mental health and other challenges.

You yourself may be struggling, or may have struggled in the past. If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out – we are here for you.

In this issue of your Fresh Approaches newsletter, we’re featuring stories to show what an impact your gifts have on all kinds of people living right here in Waterloo region.

We depend on you to ensure everyone in our community has access to fresh, nutritious food. Thank you so much for your compassionate support.

Nathan’s Story

Hunger can happen to anyone at any time. For Nathan, it happened after an unexpected illness. Up until then, Nathan had always been self-reliant, working hard to make ends meet. After the illness, Nathan found himself unable to work and struggling to afford food to put on his family’s table.

Nathan recognized he needed help, and found the courage to walk into his local food assistance program. He was given staples like rice, pasta and canned goods – but also fresh produce, dairy and even some treats for his children!

As Nathan continued to visit the program regularly, something amazing happened! His family’s nutritional needs were being met – plus he found a supportive community he never knew existed.

YOU are a part of that community, dear friend! Thanks so very much for your generous support.

You helped Nathan so much more than just providing food for his kitchen. You helped his children, who initially felt the strain of their family’s difficulties, to find a renewed sense of hope and resilience. Over time, Nathan’s situation improved, and he transitioned from being a recipient to becoming a volunteer at the food assistance program!

Thank you so much for giving from your heart to ensure there is food available to people like Nathan.

A tribute to Wendi Campbell

On Monday, January 15, Wendi Campbell passed on after a 19-month battle with glioblastoma.

Wendi was born and raised in Holland Landing before moving to KW to attend the University of Waterloo. During her university years, she also travelled and studied in the South of France for a semester, a place she still holds close to her heart. In 1999, Wendi joined the team at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region and would spend the remainder of her career here. She served as CEO for more than 15 years and employee for almost 25. Along the way, she went back to school, completing her MBA at Wilfrid Laurier University.

Wendi’s commitment to community service innovation in our region was unparalleled. She was a dedicated leader and driving force, who led the procurement of over 40 million pounds of food for our region. Wendi played a big part in developing our provincial food distribution network. She worked with multiple provincial and national committees to improve systems related to food security across our communities.

We will miss you, Wendi. You leave a legacy of innovation, progress, and impact. We will continue to work towards that vision.

Kim Wilhelm has officially stepped into the role of Chief Executive Officer. Kim assumed the role of Interim CEO in June 2022 and has been responsible for all operational matters since that time.