Food insecurity contact info:
If you find yourself in need, please contact Lisa Bixel (pantry manager) at (437) 981-5311.
She may also be reached at
Lake of Bays Winter Pantry Donation
To make a gift to the Winter Pantry you can donate via any of the following methods:
- a cheque payable to the Lake of Bays Anglican parish (please indicate on the memo that it is for the pantry)
- cash
- sending an e-transfer to treasurer810@gmail.com (please indicate the money is for the pantry)
- online via Canada Helps (for the record they take 3.5-4% off of your donation for a service fee)
Emergency housing
Special note: We understand the Dwight Pantry is no longer operating and therefore although we do not have the resources to deliver food to people in Dwight, we are open to serve in need residents from Dwight who are able to pick up the needed food at St. Ambrose in Baysville. These folks should also look to Huntsville for service as it may be closer for them.
Mandate
General Operation
Our pantry is open one afternoon every other week commencing and closing as determined
annually. We always open in September and the closing date is variable given client needs and
ability to obtain summer employment in Muskoka. A sign is located in front of the church that
includes a contact number for the pantry. On occasion, we have had people (other than
registered clients) call us in an emergency. We try to respond ASAP to clients’ requests for food
by meeting them at the pantry to fill out a registration form, distribute food or deliver food to their
homes.
During the pantry season, volunteer staff work as a team to service clients by sorting and
distributing donated food. The purchasing of the food is done by a pantry employee. During
Pantry days, clients are scheduled to arrive by appointment. Each client is treated with dignity
and respect and assured privacy if requested. It is our responsibility to protect the safety of
everyone on the premises. It is important to have two staff at the Pantry at all times, and to have
backup plans if required.
We do our utmost to accommodate clients who do not want to mingle or be seen by other
Pantry clients. Confidentiality is imperative at all times inside and outside of the Pantry. We will
make special arrangements with clients concerned about confidentiality to come to the Pantry at
the end of the day when everyone has left or on rare occasions we try to work with their
schedule for another day.
Pantry Clients
We have a variety of ways to advise clients of our services:
- Business card distribution at food pickup points
- Social media
- Health Hub in Dorset
- Flyers sent to every mailing address in our service area
- Promotion at fundraising events
- Free radio / newspaper ads if possible
- Signage at the church
- Word of mouth by current clients
- We text our clients from last season to let them know when we will be open in a subsequent year
At every opportunity, we let the public know that no one will be turned away. We do not
complete a means test. While some may question this philosophy, we have been very
successful in only attracting those that need help. It takes a lot of courage to pick up the phone
and ask for help and we will do what we can to support them, without question. This open and
welcoming concept helps to ensure the needy obtain our services.
A new client usually calls us on the phone and we will make an appointment to meet with them
prior to a pantry day. A quiet environment is important to get to know the client and determine
his / her food needs. We identify food allergies as well as those who are gluten free, diabetic,
need baby formula or prenatal vitamins and determine school children lunch requirements.
We ask if we can email (preferably) or text them with updates as they become available. We ask them to confirm
their attendance before we go shopping. This allows us to buy only the necessary products that
have shorter expiry dates such as milk and fresh fruit. If they don’t respond to our text or phone
call, we do our best to advise their emergency contact. We also ask about their health prior to
any pantry visit in order to protect the health of others.
Subject to availability, the clients are allowed to select as much as they can use until the next pantry day.
Servicing the pantry clients means more than providing nourishment. We try to accommodate
their preferences and we believe it is important to ensure that everyone maintains their dignity
within the community. We strive to accomplish this goal.
Working with other community partners
- District of Muskoka - the municipal government
- Health Hub
- Library
- Dorset Lions Clubs
- Baysville Humble Pie
- Churches. The three local churches - United, both in Dorset and Baysville, Roman Catholic and the Anglican Church all support the pantry with the Anglican Church taking the lead. Reverend Margaret Morrison from St. Ambrose leads this Ministry.
Community fundraising efforts include: local service clubs, speaking engagements, lake
associations, community groups, and seniors’ groups. All of these partners have decided to
make us the beneficiaries of their fundraising at one time or another. We work to raise enough of
a financial reserve to continue and to support our mission for one further year. We always want
to be able to address food insecurity during the coming Fall and Winter months in the
Baysville / Dorset Area. These vital community partners help us achieve this goal.