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Food bank making the best of street construction situation

Jul 25, 2017 | 12:00 PM

While the City of North Battleford said it was “business as usual” for the shops and services affected by the street construction on 101 St.  in the downtown area, completion of the project cannot come soon enough for the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre.

The construction which began in June is part of the city’s Downtown Revitalization Action Plan and once completed will beautify the area between 11th and 12th Ave. with new lamp posts, sidewalks and park benches.

Food and Resource centre Executive Director Erin Katerynych said while it’s left her team with less space, the group is making it work.

“We’ve been handing out hampers through our back doors. It gets a bit cramped and it keeps our volunteers busy,” she said.

Katerynych added construction has led to a change in pickup schedules.

“We understand the benefits the construction will have on the downtown,” Katerynych said. “But the sooner the work is done, the better for us.”

She said she heard from other store owners it could be another four weeks for the work to be completed while some of the workers have said work could end in as little as two weeks.

Katerynych added volunteers are still hoping for more donations as contributions have decreased over the summer months. 

“Things are a bit lean right now but it always happens during the summer months,” she said. “We are waiting for gardens to start maturing so that fresh produce can start to come in which will help fill our hampers.”

The Battlefords Food and Resource Centre reminds residents they can access their facility through the back entrance beginning at 10 a.m. Monday through Friday. Katerynych said there is a bell to use if the doors are locked.

 

roger.white@jpbg.ca

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