Bacon for the food bank
The Aylmer Food Centre now sees a light at the end of the tunnel. On August 25, the centre, which has been in financial difficulty for some time, received very good news.
During a press conference, Pontiac MNA André Fortin announced financial aid of $200,000 for the centre, via the Programme d’immobilisation en entrepreneurial collectif (PIEC), so that it can acquire and renovate a new building.
“The project will help this organization, which is very well rooted in the community for nearly 30 years, to consolidate its financial situation and ensure continuity of services. This is what we are contributing to,” said Mr Fortin.
For the past few years, the centre has been looking into moving to eliminate its $80,000 a year rental expense at the 70, Eardley Road location. Rent is the centre’s second most important expense and the lease with the owner, Construction GMR Inc, expires on September 1, 2017.
Moving to the former Coop santé location, 67 rue du Couvent, that is presently vacant and up for sale is one of three possibilities for the food bank.
The red building, 63 rue Symmes, occupied by Douvris martial arts, is also up for sale and therefore another possibility. For sure, the Board of Directors wishes to move into a new location, in Old Aylmer, before the summer of 2017.
The acquisition and renovation project is evaluated at $800,000. The PIEC’s $200,000 financial aid will enable the centre to make a first payment on a new building.
The PIEC is a financial aid program for socio-economic organizations that wish to renovate, build or acquire a building for the development of their business and service offered. This program is one of the pillar measures included in the government’s social and economic 2015-2020 action plan that was released in May 2015 – a total of 20 million dollars spread over five years.
The Aylmer Food Centre helps some 700 families every year by distributing food and organizing participatory activities such as collective kitchens. It also offers programs such as social and community support, social and occupational reintegration as well as programs to reduce homelessness. “Through its vocation, the centre helps reduce poverty, an important social and economic concern,” adds Mr Fortin.
