The Lighthouse has nearly doubled the amount of meals they have provided through its “essential” bagged lunch program on the strength of a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
In 2023, the shelter was awarded a two-year, $110,500 resilient communities fund grant that Lighthouse officials say has been “instrumental” in expanding its meal programs.
While the Lighthouse has a meal program for clients staying in the shelter, the bagged lunch program provides meals four days per week for members of the broader community. Thanks to the grant, the program’s offering has climbed from 40-45 meals to 70 each day it’s offered – totalling 280 meals distributed each week.
Lighthouse officials gathered with Leslie Stroud, constituency assistant to Simcoe North MPP Jill Dunlop, on Thursday morning for a recognition event about the grant.
“We are deeply grateful to the Ontario Trillium Foundation for their unwavering support,” said Meagan Bianco, the Lighthouse’s development director. “This grant empowers us to continue our mission of supporting our community members in their time of need.”
The program originally began as a temporary measure during the COVID-19 pandemic, but has since “grown into one of our most essential services,” Bianco said.
“This expansion has not only allowed us to meet the growing demand for food services in Orillia, but it has also strengthened our resilience and sustainability,” she said.
“We've been able to hire additional kitchen staff, secure essential food supplies, ensuring that more of our vulnerable and food insecure community members have access to nutritious meals – meals that are crucial for their health and dignity," said Bianco.
In total, the Lighthouse served 85,000 meals through all of its programs in 2023, with the bagged lunch program also providing the opportunity to connect with vulnerable community members who are not currently staying at the shelter, officials said.
Speaking on behalf of Dunlop, Stroud highlighted the importance of the Lighthouse in the community and the “shared commitment to fostering a stronger, healthier community.”
“For years, this organization has been a beacon of hope, compassion and support in our community, providing essential services that have touched countless lives,” Stroud said.
“Although only halfway through this … grant, (it) has played a crucial role in supporting this vital program, ensuring that some of the most vulnerable members of our community have access to nutritious meals.”
