03/31/2026
The power might go out, but community support never will.
Winter hit hard last year, and the West Muskoka Food Bank felt it.
Two harsh winter storms – one bringing 8 feet of snow, and the other coating the area in ice – left the food bank without power for days. Food spoiled, causing a major setback for a food bank already trying to keep up with a growing demand for food assistance.
The West Muskoka Food Bank needed a generator, but as anyone who has dealt with generators knows, they are expensive.
Solving this problem became a community effort between multiple partners and donors. The Lowden Family Fund donated $10,000 toward the generator cost. The Feed Muskoka Fund, which supports food security initiatives across the region, contributed $5,000. The Township of Muskoka Lakes covered the installation costs because the food bank is located on township property.
Now, after a year of coordination and collaboration, we are excited to share that the West Muskoka Food Bank’s generator is connected and ready! No matter what Mother Nature brings, families will still have access to food when they need it.
This is the power of community!⚡️
[Photo 1: Left to right: David Pink (CAO, Township of Muskoka Lakes), Rebecca Cunnington (Manager West Muskoka Food Bank), Peter Kelley (Mayor of the Township of Muskoka Lakes), Mary Ellen McIntyre (Executive Director of the Muskoka Community Foundation), and Glad Bryce (volunteer and Director of West Muskoka Food Bank) stand outside with the newly installed Generac generator.
Photo 2: David Pink, Rebecca Cunnington, Ruth Nishikawa (Director of the Muskoka Community Foundation), Mary Ellen McIntyre, Peter Kelley, and Glad Bryce stand inside the West Muskoka Food Bank as they hold a cheque for $15,000 from the Lowden Family Fund and the Feed Muskoka Fund.]
