President’s Weekly Bulletin – After Easter Reflections on Food Insecurity
What did you eat for Easter? Many will have enjoyed a hearty main course—my personal favourite being glazed ham. Others may have gathered around a table for roasted lamb, roast chicken, pork tenderloin, or a beautifully prepared beef roast. And of course, Easter desserts are often festive and colourful: carrot cake, hot cross buns, chocolate bunnies, or Easter basket cupcakes decorated with pastel confections.
For many of us, Easter is a time of abundance—a celebration marked by full plates and shared meals. Yet, as we reflect on the joy of the weekend, we must also pause and acknowledge a sobering reality much closer to home.
Prince Edward County is one of the most food insecure regions in Ontario. An estimated 1 in 4 households in our region are going hungry—significantly higher than the provincial average of 17.4%. Here in Wellington, demand continues to rise sharply, with the Storehouse Foodbank reporting a 35% year-over-year increase in the number of individuals and families seeking support.
Food insecurity is not simply about food—it is about income. People are food insecure because they do not have enough money to meet basic needs. Those most affected include renters, female-led single-parent households, individuals living alone, people with disabilities, and many within racialized and immigrant communities. These are our neighbours, quietly facing impossible choices between paying rent, heating their homes, or putting food on the table.
Fortunately, our community is supported by organizations working tirelessly to address this challenge. The Storehouse Foodbank, founded in 2007, is one such pillar. Last year alone, they served over 4,500 individuals, including approximately 150 children, across Wellington and the surrounding areas from Bloomfield to Carrying Place.
The Rotary Club of Wellington has long been a proud supporter of the Foodbank. Through annual financial contributions and the hands-on efforts of our members, we have helped sustain this vital service. In fact, roughly 20% of our membership volunteers regularly, assisting with sourcing, packaging, and distributing food each week. This is Rotary in action—service above self, making a tangible difference in the lives of others.
However, the need continues to grow. The Storehouse Foodbank has now outgrown its current facility and is actively searching for a new home. While this transition presents challenges, it also represents an opportunity—for our community to come together, to support, and to ensure that this essential service can continue to meet increasing demand.
Food insecurity may never fully disappear, but that does not mean we are powerless. Each of us has a role to play—whether through Rotary initiatives, volunteering our time, advocating for change, or offering individual support where we can.
As we move beyond the abundance of Easter, let us carry forward a spirit of compassion and awareness. Let us remember that while many of us enjoyed full tables, others are still struggling to fill theirs. And let us reaffirm our commitment, as Rotarians and as a community, to help ensure that no one in Prince Edward County goes hungry.
Yvonne Buys President 2025/26
Rotarian Dave Smith recently delivered Easter Hams to the Storehouse Foodbank. What a thoughtful gesture. 
Thought for the week..
“If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”– Mother Teresa
Congratulations to Liz Bosma Donovan on receiving her first Paul Harris Fellow!
This Week's Zoom Meeting Details:
Topic: Weekly Rotary Meeting
Time: Mar. 30, 2026, 07:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting - https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81827939082
Meeting ID: 818 2793 9082
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