Keeping Shelves Full at Parker Street Furniture and Food Bank

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“The good news is because of Second Harvest… in times of famine like this, we’re able to keep food on the shelves,” Brigitte MacInnes, direct of client services, shared.

Like all food banks, Parker Street Furniture and Food Bank in Halifax, NS goes faces feast-or-famine cycles, as donations, demand and logistics are uneven and often seasonal. Surpluses can come in bursts, and sustaining a consistent supply is a constant challenge.

“Through Second Harvest we’ve been able to acquire some really strong donations on a weekly basis, and those weekly donations are what keep us going.” Brigitte said.

Beyond food, Parker Street strives to give people a sense of warmth and home, offering furniture and clothing alongside grocery boxes.

“We try to make sure we are sending people away with dignity, so that when they come to Parker Street, they know they’re being treated with love.”

Each week, the organization prepares more than 100 food boxes a day, five days a week. On Tuesdays, they deliver food directly to people who can’t make it in, while also stocking six community fridges across the city.

“It’s one of the best food programs in the city.” Romaine Rhoden, director of donor relations and communications shared. “We don’t just give a food box, we try to see what our client’s needs are. We have a diverse community and need to care for different needs, so we make sure to provide options like vegetarian and halal foods.”

For Brigitte, the work is both rewarding and bittersweet.

“In a perfect world, no one would go hungry.” Brigitte said. “Everyone would have a place to live, furniture to sit on, food to eat and warmth. I wish we could do that for everyone in the HRM (Halifax Regional Municipality). It breaks my heart that we can’t, but we’re doing the best we can.”