The Centre Action Bénévole de Cowansville (CAB de Cowansville) has officially launched its fundraising campaign for its future expansion project and is calling on community members to come together and help support people in need. 

The CAB de Cowansville is a volunteer-based organization that offers a number of services to help meet the needs of the people in its territory, including the Cowansville food bank, medical transport support, and income tax services. It serves areas such as Cowansville, East-Farnham, Dunham, Frelighsburg and Brigham.

It announced its $765,000 expansion project at its 50th anniversary celebrations earlier this year. The goal with the project is to expand the CAB de Cowansville’s facilities to help address issues with food insecurity in the area and to maximize its food bank.

The fundraising campaign was launched in September and it has raised $250,000 so far, but Nathalia Guerrero Vélez, manager of the CAB de Cowansville’s expansion project noted that there is still a lot of work to be done. 

“We are working hard on the campaign every day. Every single day we send grant applications to different foundations, government programs, etc. Something that we have realized is that there are very few grants available for infrastructure projects, it’s not so easy,” Guerrero Vélez. “However, we have received, for example, from the federal government a grant for all of the kitchen equipment and for the community freezer and fridge that is a part of the project.”

The CAB de Cowansville currently doesn’t have the space to have its food bank on site. As a result, it is renting a space at the commercial centre across the street from its offices. According to Guerrero Vélez, there are very limited spaces available in Cowansville at the moment, but the food needs in the area only continue to grow. 

In the month of September alone, the CAB de Cowansville’s food bank provided food for 135 families -- 300 people in total. More than 70 food boxes were prepared each week with an average of 20 to 30 people on the waiting list, according to Guerrero Vélez. 

“In Cowansville, we don’t have this type of facility. It won’t be just for us, but also for other organizations working on food insecurity in Cowansville and the surroundings. So it’s going to be very useful not just for us, but other organizations. Precisely, at this time, is when we need it the most,” said Guerrero Vélez. “Back in February, we spoke and I was already telling you how difficult the situation was, but now it’s really unprecedented. I can say that we are facing something that we haven’t faced before. We have a waiting list every week now just for the food bank.”

Guerrero Vélez added that the “vulnerable” people in the community are having a more difficult time now than during the pandemic.

“My team told me that there is not a single day where we do not receive a new family that comes to ask for a food basket ...  And the portrait is very clear -- it is people that work that cannot afford to pay for their food because everything else is so expensive,” added Guerrero Vélez. “It’s a worrisome situation. We are happy that we are developing a project that is going to help us respond to the situation in a better way, in a more adequate way. This is not going to change and we also do not believe this is going to change quickly. This crisis is going to stay for a while and we need to respond.” 

Highlighting the CAB de Cowansville’s vision for its expansion project in more detail, Guerrero Vélez said that it includes the community fridge and freezer previously mentioned, a new kitchen certified by MAPAQ (Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation), and a new multi-functional space that can be used by community groups in the area to carry out food related activities, such as community meals.

“We will be able to transform all of the food coming from the anti-waste project. This is a really nice project that we work on together with all of the other CABs in the area. We get a lot of fresh food during the season from farmers. (…) When we get the kitchen, we are going to be able to transform and get that maximized, so less waste, and then give it to people in need. That’s another important part of the project,” noted Guerrero Vélez. “There will also be a multifunctional room (…) and this space will be available for the community.”

Guerrero Vélez said that the CAB de Cowansville hopes to begin construction on its expansion project by the spring of 2024, but it is depending on the community to help make it happen. 

"I just invite everyone to reach out because maybe their neighbours are in need, our neighbours are in need and we don’t even know it.  To talk about our campaign, and to support our campaign because it will bring a lot of support to people in need. So subscribe to our newsletter and just be aware of the situation, it’s really difficult for a lot people,” she emphasized. "If you want to help by volunteering or by giving a donation, everything is appreciated." 

Listen to the full interview with Guerrero Vélez below: