Food insecurity is a cause dear to Allison Hankel’s heart.

She told Woodstock city councillors at a Nov. 6 council meeting that she went into foster care at the age of 13 and began to live independently three years later. She said she relied on government assistance to feed her young family and help her through post-secondary education.

Hankel helped launch a Food Rescue Hub in 2023 in a Woodstock community centre. She and colleagues Chris Cunningham and Karen Sample appeared before council to request a $50,000 donation from the city to expand the hub so it can help distribute more food that would otherwise go to waste.

Councillors voted to double the amount of funding by providing $50,000 from the mayor’s social well-being task force and another $50,000 from the Woodstock community acc

See Full Page