The Colborne community is working together to help residents get the food supplies they need after a recent fire hit the Cramahe Township’s only grocery store.

Early in the morning on May 24, a fire broke out at the Foodland store on Toronto Street, closing the sole grocery store in the town. The cause of the fire remains unknown and the investigation is ongoing.

CWFN's attempts to reach the local Colborne Foodland owners have been unsuccessful, but Sobeys’ corporate office has now responded with a statement noting that the Cramahe Township’s only grocery store will be closed for an undetermined period of time as they work through the fire investigation and formal damage assessment. 

“We are extremely grateful that no one was injured in the May 24 fire and thank all our first responders for their efforts," the statement reads. "Our team continues to work closely with the Ontario Fire Marshal on the ongoing investigation and we thank all of our Colborne Foodland customers for their continued support and patience.”

The nearest grocery stores are now in Brighton to the east and Cobourg to the west.

Sobeys thanked the Town of Colborne and Cramahe Township team for their ongoing support during this difficult time, especially for their efforts in launching a twice-weekly shuttle service to Cobourg for residents to pick up their groceries from our neighbouring Cobourg Foodland store.

Meanwhile, Community Care Northumberland is offering free shuttle service to Cobourg on Tuesdays and Thursdays, with pick-ups at the Colborne Legion, town hall and at the Percy Street apartment building. Community Care's transportation services manager Bobby-Jo Preston said township officials reached out immediately after the fire to see if the agency could help in some way, and they were able to expand on the services they currently offer.

“We have right now two options so if we do have somebody that has an accessible need we do have accessible vehicles that can accommodate up to five people and one wheelchair or we can accommodate three people and two wheelchairs,” Preston said.

“We also have a non-accessible vehicle should we get the count that requires it where we can hold up to 14 people and we’ve also made some accommodations by putting some baskets and stuff in the vehicles so that everything is secured while we’re driving," Preson added. "So far it’s worked out well and people seem to enjoy that it’s there and appreciate that’s been offered through the Township.”

Cramahe Township Mayor Mandy Martin said she continues to be impressed, but not surprised, by how the community has come together.

“We want to support this very vital service that’s in our community and people are going out of their way to help, even other store owners - for example Mr. Convenience is bringing in extra bread and eggs and milk,” she said. “All kinds of people are offering to drive people on their own and we’re referring them to Community Care to align themselves there. It’s been just wonderful the way the community is backing, not only the need or trying to address, but also in support of Foodland.”

Martin has not spoken with the store owners since the day of the fire, but she pledged the township's support at that time, recognizing the importance for residents to have a grocery store again in the future.

“I’m sure they’ve got lots of things that they have to sort out themselves. I mean there’s staffing, there’s the goods themselves, the building, the future, but we have made it very clear that Cramahe Township is here and we’ll support in however way we can.

Sobeys hasn’t responded to follow-up questions from CFWN on how much of the building will need to be demolished and if they are committed to renovating or rebuilding in Colborne. CFWN also contacted the local fire department for comment but has yet to receive a response. 

To learn about arranging a ride, contact any of the Community Care offices throughout the county or visit commcare.ca/transportation. You can also learn how to be a volunteer driver for any of the Community Care services provided. 

Listen below to hear the radio report: