From the left: Christine Cross-Barkley is seen being presented with a token of appreciation for her informative talk and powerpoint at the meeting by CDHS President Caroline Roberts. Thompson Goddard Photo

CHESTERVILLE – The Chesterville and District Historical Society held their October meeting at the Heritage Centre located on Victoria Street in this North Dundas Community. The guest speaker for the evening was Christine Cross-Barkley who spoke on the F.A.I.T.H. (an acronym for Food Always In The House) Pantry and Garden located at Christ Church United in Chesterville.

Cross-Barkley provided an interesting and informative presentation on the outreach work done by community volunteers. She began by mentioning the work was begun as she felt a call to care for those people who are less fortunate and experiencing challenging times in the community.

The F.A.I.T.H. Garden began in 2021 using land which was located to the rear of the church, with the garden size expanded in the following year. People in the community have donated their time, seeds, plants, garden tilling, and watering as well as fruit trees and raspberry canes. She noted how community organizations such as the Grade 5-6 class at Chesterville Public School, the 1st North Dundas Girl Guides as well as the Rotary Club of Chesterville have all contributed to the success of the garden. All food grown is provided at no costs to community members and once harvested is located in bins just outside the back entrance of the church.  She also mentioned this fall F.A.I.T.H. Garden volunteers were able to be part of the gleaning in the gardens at Upper Canada Village.

The F.A.I.T.H. Pantry is located in the rear basement area of CCU and began as an emergency supply of food. There was a concern that while House of Lazarus and Community Food Share were assisting people in need, there were people in Chesterville who were not able to access resources from these organizations which were located in other communities.

Cross-Barkley noted that originally there were 2-4 people, with the numbers beginning to increase in early 2023. She mentioned a motto for the F.A.I.T.H. Pantry could be “Come in, get what you need, we are here to help you”. Clients are provided with a selection of donated food including dairy products, eggs, meat as well as non-perishable items and pet food.

She thanked students from Chesterville Public School who held a food drive for the F.A.I.T.H. Pantry in February 2024, the donation of foods raised by firefighters from the North Dundas Fire Station in Chesterville during their Christmas Eve Santa tour in the village and the donation box located at Mike Dean’s Local Grocer in Chesterville.

Cross-Barkley concluded her presentation by saying there are 25 volunteers who often spend 200 hours a month helping the 41 families who visit the F.A.I.T.H. Pantry. There are several new initiatives set to either begin shortly or in the new year. She expressed her thanks for the donations which are made for this undertaking from the community.