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Food bank needs volunteers President says group might have to cut food distribution down to once a month without more members
Candace Thomson
Northern News Services
Published Thursday, September 19, 2013
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The president of the YK Food Bank says it may have to cut back on the amount of food it hands out because of a dwindling number of volunteer board members.
YK Food Bank president Grant Pryznyk has been volunteering for the charity for more than two years. He said half of their board of directors has left due to illness, family illness or other personal reasons over the past year. - Candace Thomson/NNSL photo
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Grant Pryznyk said 12 people stepped up to the plate last year and offered their services as directors on the Yk Food Bank board, but more than half of them had to leave because of illness, family emergencies or other personal reasons.
"Basically we're down to about five directors who have the time and the ability to take on the work," Pryznyk said at the Food Bank on Monday.
The approaching winter months add to their stress as donations in food and cash tend to ramp up during the Christmas season, Pryznyk said. More hands will be needed as food comes in, and there will need to be enough board members to organize and handle the flow of resources.
In the best case scenario, Pryznyk said he'd like to see between 10 and 12 directors on the board, but he understands setting even a few hours a week aside can be difficult.
"I know a lot of people volunteer and they're up to their eyes with the volunteer time they put in but it's an important thing to a number of people in the city," he said.
Worst case scenario, should the positions remain vacant on the board, Pryznyk said the current board would have to cut back on food donations.
"If it becomes a problem where people can't do the work then it's going to get behind, or we may have to cut down the number of distribution days," he said, frowning.
The YK Food Bank has been operating for the last 10 years in the basement of Overlander Sports. It distributes food to Yellowknifers in need two Saturdays a month, feeding at least 200 families per month and approximately 8,000 people per year.
A director on the board is usually expected to donate a maximum of two hours per week to the charity and attend a monthly board meeting, Pryznyk said. With only five board members readily able to do so, they are having to put in triple the time they'd normally be expected to and Pryznyk is worried people are going to get burnt out.
He said there are a number of tasks the charity needs board members for.
"We have to have someone as a warehouse manager and that's one of the most important ones because they order the food when we get down on it," he explained. "They make sure the warehouse is kept in an orderly manner."
Other tasks up for grabs are co-ordinating with the volunteers, creating and maintaining the website Pryznyk is hoping to get up for the charity, helping to organize special events keeping the constitution and charity status documents up to date. The organization will also be searching for executive positions such as president and vice-president.
The YK Food Bank regained its charitable status last year after losing it in 2007 when it was called the Yellowknife Food Bank.
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