Here to Help: Supporting Neighbours Facing Hunger in the Annapolis Valley

“There’s people out there that want to give back. [Some people] don’t realize that community is here for them.” Judy Doyle, director of Twelve Baskets food bank in Middleton, NS said.  

Serving clients every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, the food bank has become a lifeline for hundreds of families across the region. Behind every order is a dedicated team of volunteers making it all possible.

“We’re fortunate to be able to do this,” Judy said. “Thirty-five volunteers come every week and spend time away from their own families to help someone else. That’s special.”

For Judy, the commitment of volunteers is what keeps the food bank running.

“We’re open from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., but if clients are still waiting, everybody stays,” she explained. “Sometimes you don’t leave until 9:30 p.m., and then you come back the next week and do it again because you know there’s a need.”

When clients arrive, volunteers take time to understand each family’s needs before packing boxes with available produce, protein and pantry staples. The process is designed to make people feel supported and respected.

“It’s hard for people to ask for help,” Judy said. “Whether it’s for themselves or a neighbour, a lot of people struggle with that.”

Joan Morrison, who has managed the food bank for 22 years, has witnessed that need grow dramatically over time.

“When I first started here, we may have had 12 families a week,” Joan shared. “Now we’re serving about 200 families a month.”

Since joining the Second Harvest network in 2021, Twelve Baskets Food Bank has rescued more than 926,000 lbs of surplus food, helping support people from all walks of life across a 40-mile radius as food insecurity continues to grow in rural communities.  

“The world knows there’s hunger,” Judy said. “There aren’t enough jobs, and there’s not enough support. Food banks have filled a need that, in the beginning, was thought to be temporary.”

In the face of that growing need, the team remains focused on ensuring every client feels welcome.

“We want clients to feel appreciated and know that we’re here to serve them,” Judy said. “They’ve done nothing wrong by coming here. They’re just in need, and that’s why we’re here.”

That compassion is something longtime volunteer Darlene sees every shift she works alongside her sister, Doreen.

“People need food for their bellies and food for their soul,” Darlene shared. “It must be hard to come to that window and ask for help, but I’m glad they do. I wouldn’t want families going without something on the table.”

At Twelve Baskets Food Bank, every volunteer shift and order filled is a reminder that no one should face hunger alone, and that care sustains community.

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