It’s Friday June 24. Good Morning I’m Karim Mosna with your daily news brief. In the news…
With Canada’s inflation rate reaching a record high 7.7%, Partners In Mission Food Bank has seen demand at 19% higher so far this year than in all of 2021, which was also a record breaking year.
Food Bank Executive Director Dan Irwin says, “When those who were managing on their own, get hit with higher gas bills, higher grocery bills, it’s really starting to impact them..This isn’t just a bump, we’re up a lot over our record year last year.”
Irwin says so far the food bank is still managing to meet the unprecedented demands. The Partners In Mission Food Bank is accepting both monetary and food donations. Anyone who needs help can contact the Food Bank.
Kingston Youth Shelter has received a $14,000 donation with proceeds coming from the Kingston and Area Real Estate Association’s Bowl-a-Thon which returned after a 2 year hiatus.
Youth Shelter Executive Director Anne Brown says the funds “help fill the gaps..we receive regular funding from United Way and the City of Kingston but it doesn’t cover all the expenses.”
Expenses include providing food and clothing to the youth, as well as staffing costs.
Brown says “Our youth counsellors work with each individual’s specific needs that caused them to be homeless…whether it be assistance with a medical issue, addictions issue, continue school or rebuild relationships with family.”
Presently, the shelter has 16 sleeping pods set up at MacGIllivray-Brown Hall part of Queens’ campus. The Shelter is about halfway to it’s goal of raising 1.5 million dollars to move to a larger property to accommodate 21 permanent sleeping pods with 3 flexible spaces.
An immersive summer camp combining science with creativity is back at Elbow Lake this year. Counsellor for Eco Adventure Camp, Hilary Fotheringham says, “We’re hoping to blend together science experiential learning with arts & crafts, so kids have the opportunity to learn and explore the creative side of things.”
Each week covers a different theme related to nature and biology, combined with outdoor activities such as canoeing and hiking. The camp has been running since 2011.
Camp Director Mel Kehoe says, with the last two years running virtual, it hasn’t been super popular, but “I think all the families we have registered right now are very excited for the camp to be in-person.”
The first week of camp begins July 11th.
That’s all for your daily news brief, I’m Karim Mosna. If you have any news tips email me: news@cfrc.ca