CORNWALL, Ontario – The Agapè Centre in Cornwall is asking for support in the face of declining donations.
According to Director of Operations Joh Ann Couture, the centre has received around 30 percent fewer donations this year than they did last year.
Couture explained that the Agapè Centre receives up to 65 percent of its funding through purchases at it’s thrift store, but that the rest come from donations. The centre has an operating budget of around $800,000.
She said that the organization has gone through some belt tightening over the past few years, reducing their expenditures in 2017 by 40 percent from the previous year, but that they are now facing rising costs due to Bill 148 and more expensive foods.
She said that without donations, they may have to consider cuts.
“We would have to really, seriously look at services and what we can deliver,” said Couture.
The Agapè Centre serves around 160 people per day in its soup kitchen and according to Agapè Centre board chairman Maurice Dupelle, roughly 600 families use their foodbank every month, which could equal as many as 1,200 people.
“If it was my child going through hard times, I would want someone to be there to give them a good meal,” Couture said.
“The cost of carrots has tripled. We used to give 2 carrots to everyone that comes into the food bank, but we can’t afford it,” she continued.
There will be a golf tournament fundraiser on Sept. 21 in support of the Agapè Centre and it is being entirely organized by their board of directors.
“It does a lot of good to our community and provides no burden to taxpayers,” said Dupelle. “I think in the summer people forget about us, but hunger doesn’t take a vacation.”
The Agapè Centre receives no funding from any level of government.
“It means a lot to me and my family,” said Linsay Regnier at the Agapè Centre. “We use the soup kitchen every day and having this service really helps.”
