Larrry Brigham always envisioned the Regional Food Distribution Associaton’s headquarters as more than just a place to store food.
Though no longer running the Syndicate Street facility, Brigham said it’s abundantly apparent the organization is achieving its goals.
On Friday the RFDA showed off its latest achievement, the start of an orchard ringing the building’s parking lot that is expected to produce a crop of apples and pears to help feed the city’s neediest residents.
“To see the place unfold is exciting,” said Brigham, who still holds a spot on the RFDA’s board of directors.
“I come in here sometimes and see the Community Living young people working away, making their meals ... I see the businesses that are starting to grow and develop in the community and taking wing, and that’s exciting as well.”
Brigham said the RFDA’s Paterson Family Food Centre is expanded well past what he thought possible when the search began for a new home.
“This has gone beyond what my vision was and what my dreams were. It’s exciting to see. It’s just taken off like crazy. I wanted it to be more than just a food bank. I wanted it to be a food centre. And it is a food centre,” Brigham said.
Volker Kromm, the executive director at the RFDA, said Friday’s celebration was all about saying thanks to the community and to sponsors and donors who have made the centre into what it is today.
“They have made it possible for us to go that next step,” said Kromm, noting the RFDA has already paid off its hefty mortgage.
“It’s one thing to be feeding people perishable goods on a limited basis, but we want to open that up to more nutritious foods and a greater variety of healthy products and services.”
Alexander Paterson said the John Andrews Foundation will donate $50,000 to the RFDA’s capital campaign program, while Coun. Iain Angus said the organization strengthens his belief that the community will always find a way to come together and meet the needs of its people.
The RFDA is an essential part of Thunder Bay’s fabric, he said.
“Quite frankly, we would be in trouble if we didn’t have it,” Angus said.
