Local Canadian Foodgrains Bank meeting addresses world hunger

Leamington’s United Mennonite Church on Oak Street held a gathering of donors on Monday, March 25 to hear about the vitally important work done recently by the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. 

Through a non-denominational partnership between 15 Canadian churches and the federal government, the Canadian Foodgrains Bank provides international food assistance in emergency situations, works on long-term responses to improve household food security and attempts to engage Canadians and governments to work towards meaningful social change.

Henry Klassen played the role of facilitator for the local meeting, while guest speakers included Henry Reinders who serves as the Ontario Regional Representative for the bank and Maya Van der woerd, the bank’s digital media and communications officer.

Reinders highlighted the impact that the organization is having on the increasing issue of food security, stating that they provided almost $80 million in assistance for 1.1 million people in 36 countries around the world in 2023.

Of particular note, Reinders described how the Canadian Foodgrains Bank is having an immediate impact in Gaza as their food assistance is beginning to trickle in to help those dealing with need that now sits at an unprecedented, catastrophic level. 

Van der woerd provided a first-person perspective in her presentation as she spoke about her recent trips to Kenya and Burundi and how her organization is working on projects that create lasting change by providing knowledge about best practices that will increase local agricultural yields in these unique environments.

Bringing a local flavour to the gathering, Henry Klassen provided information about the corn and soybeans that are grown on a 10-acre plot at the Tiessen ranch for the grains bank that act as a way for local farmers to make a contribution towards combating the world hunger crisis. 

On a final note, Klassen is encouraging others to support this worthy program by attending or contributing to a fundraiser at the Tiessen ranch on June 23 that will help to offset the input costs associated with growing the crops for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.