Sioux Lookout Food Bank preparing for major fundraiser 

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Lookout Food Bank is preparing for a major fundraiser with three events taking place on June 15 at Fresh Market Foods from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Sioux Lookout Food Bank Manager Amanda Landgraff explained, “There will be a fundraiser BBQ, with 100 percent of the sales going directly to the food bank’s building fund as Fresh Market is generously donating all the food for this. We will also hold a Food Drive at the same time. We are so thankful for how the community shows up each time we have done a food drive, to help refill our shelves so we can continue to serve those in town who are experiencing food insecurity.”
Landgraff said items the Food Bank is especially in need of at this time include: fruit cups, applesauce, canned fruit, canned vegetables, granola bars, cereal, crackers, peanut butter, jam, and canned meat.
Landgraff continued, “Lastly, we are holding a “Jail & Bail.” All participants have been contacted ahead and agreed to participate in this fun event!”
All six of the “accused” community members who have donated their time to help out with the fundraiser have been “charged” with fictitious “crimes”. 
Sioux Lookout OPP officers have gotten in on the fun and will be picking up the “accused” persons around town and bringing them to Fresh Market Foods during the event where they will be placed into a mock “jail cell”.
People will be able to pay for the “accused” people’s bail or pay to keep them in “jail” longer. 
Donating their time to the fundraiser as “wanted” persons are Sioux Lookout Mayor Doug Lawrance, local hairstylist Cherie Coulombe, Sioux Lookout Bombers Head Coach Carson Johnstone, Librarian Nancy McCord, New Life Assembly Youth Pastor Steve Harder, and Hub Collective Roast Master Jesse Hochstetler. 
Funds raised at all three events will go to the food bank’s building fund.
Having raised the required funds ($169,000 – raised over two months) to purchase two lots in town to construct a new building upon, Landgraff said the Food Bank will officially take possession of the lots on June 28. She explained that the project to open a new food bank building will then move into phase two, getting quotes over the summer for excavation of the lots, which will take place in spring of 2025.  
Landgraff explained that best case scenario, construction would be able to start following excavation with the food bank moving into its new home in late 2025. Most likely she said the new food bank building would open in 2026.
Landgraff is looking at applying for grants to help with the excavating and construction costs but said most likely the Food Bank will require additional support from the community to cover those expenses.
In the meantime, Landgraff is looking at making the best use of the space the Food Bank has.
One of the ways she is doing that is through a grant she has applied for to replace the food bank’s chest freezers with upright commercial freezers.
“If we received those that would more than double our freezer space,” she said.
The Sioux Lookout Food Bank continues to deliver food hampers three days a week, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
People in need of a food hamper can call or text 807-738-6896.