Learn More About Us
Le Pont / Bridging Food Bank
Feeding families in need since 1996.
History
Le Pont / Bridging was set up in 1996 when Carol Laws learned of a local Hudson father who had lost his job. He needed help to feed his family of five over a six-week period before Unemployment Insurance cheques arrived in the mail. Since there was no local area food bank at that time, Carol helped out saying, “I just had an overwhelming urge to help them.” She could not imagine letting his three children go hungry.
(The family was really appreciative. They became friends and exchanged Xmas gifts before they moved away. The help they received from Le Pont / Bridging was so much more than just transactional.)
Realizing that this was not an isolated case, Carol initiated Le Pont / Bridging food bank.
From humble beginnings in a single cupboard at Hudson’s St. Thomas elementary school, the food bank later moved to a municipal trailer in present day Jack Layton Park and then to an empty house on Maple both places provided by the Town of Hudson. After it moved into new facilities, the Hudson Medicentre on Cameron initially gave Le Pont / Bridging access to their basement. Today, Le Pont / Bridging is fortunate enough to have purpose-built facilities in the basement of the new Hudson Medicentre on Main Road. Generous donations covered the cost of refurbishing and equipping of the space (tables, carts, shelving, fridge and freezers). The Medicentre charges no rent and covers virtually all the costs!
We are grateful to past board members Renée Bannon, Jean Wood, Marilyn Crabtree, Albert Therrien, Annick St. Germain, Allan Case, Tom Pound, Nurhan Ecityan and Diane Bates Davis.
Today, Le Pont / Bridging serves about 40 families per month on average, compared with about 30 families per month before the Covid pandemic.
Mission
To respond in an equitable way to the temporary and longer-term food insecurity of residents in need in Hudson and surrounding communities.
Vision
To ensure that all Hudson residents in need and those in surrounding communities can to thrive without having to live with the threat of food insecurity.
Values
- We all deserve secure access to food.
- We treat all with dignity, respect and without discrimination.
- We listen, learn about, show empathy toward, and are dedicated to responding to our clients’ needs as much as possible.
- We respect our clients’ privacy and need for confidentiality at all times.
- We are grateful to our donors whom we thank and recognize, as appropriate, in accordance with the established Code of Ethical Standards for fundraising.
Board of Directors
President Kirsten Stoger
Treasurer Sue Bednarski
Vice-President Rebecca Stone
Secretary Dolores Meade
Founding Director Carol Laws
Members at large
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Louise Gauthier
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Ron Goldenberg
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Sally Janson
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Elizabeth Kennell
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Robert Lagendyk