Elsie Macdonald often accepts invitations, and it was an invitation from an aunt living in the town of Pictou which took from her home in the Annapolis Valley to visit Pictou many years ago. However, she had no idea when she accepted the invite to volunteer at the Pictou West Food Bank that it would lead to her becoming its co-ordinator.
While visiting her aunt, Elsie liked the area so much she decided to stay. She met and married Blair Macdonald of Pictou. Their marriage was shortened as Blair died of polio when their son, Gary, was only five months old. Elsie prepared herself to support her son by taking a typing course. She worked in other establishments before becoming a stenographer with the RCMP. After 22 years she retired from the RCMP in 1990.
The Pictou West Food Bank was located in the Catholic church when a friend asked Elsie to help at it. I cant remember how or when I became co-ordinator, but I do know it was the year I retired and soon after I began working there. The need was visible and became too much for the church to handle alone. We approached the town which offered us the basement of the town hall. It seems from then the Pictou West Food Bank snowballed. When I took over its leadership we had 25 volunteers, today we have 45.
Elsie noted while the food bank serves about 100 families a month, not everyone knows it exists.
Everyone is aware of the food bank in New Glasgow, which is Pictou East because they serve the people in that area. We serve, besides Pictou town, rural areas such as Durham, West Branch, Loch Broom, Toney River, Caribou, River John and all areas in between.
Food banks depend on donations. The churches are a great support with cash donations coming from Michelin, Sobeys, Tim Hortons, Curves, the latter have annual drives for us. The firemen did a drive for us in the spring which was very successful. Needless to say we always welcome donations of food and cash.
The food bank has a board of directors, all of whom volunteers at the facility.
Volunteers are the strength of the organization. They work in teams so no one is expected to be there every week. Our doors are open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The client must call the Help Line the day before coming, which tells us how many to expect. We keep a record of when the client visits, no more often than once a month unless there is an emergency. It is expected they are also assisted by Social Service, but with todays costs, it is understandable many have to spend their allowance on rent and other of lifes essentials, thus might have to cut down on groceries. There are also folks who need help with their food bill, but are too proud to seek it. We worry about those families and would welcome them.
Since the town has offered their basement, we are able to put all cash donations towards perishable items.
The Pictou West Food Bank does take most of Elsie Macdonalds time. Yet she is a co-coordinator of the Pictou Opportunity Shop. She is hoping to again find time to indulge in rug hooking as she did in former years. Her flower garden is one ways she relaxes. When I am at home, but not in the house, one will find me in the garden, she says.
Her son Gary lives in Dartmouth and often visits with his son, Blair, who was named for his grandfather. She doesnt get to travel as often as she would wish because of her busy schedule but did remember visiting Expo and Bermuda years ago with friends.
Invitations to volunteer in worthwhile causes will no doubt continue to arrive for Elsie but she says the Pictou West Food Bank and Opportunity Shop are more than enough for an octogenarian to handle. Being active keeps her young but she wants to be assured those who need a hand up in Pictou, will always gets it, therefore must pace her self.
Aleta Williams is a freelance writer with The News and is a New Glasgow resident. Her column appears each Saturday in The News
