Sioux Lookout Food Bank seeking donations for their building project as demand for service increases 

Tim Brody - Editor

The Sioux Lookout Food Bank is seeking donations for phase 2 (site preparation & excavation) and phase 3 (construction) of their building project.
Last year, thanks to the generosity of the community, the organization was able to raise the $169,000 needed to purchase property at 7 Carlbom Drive for a new building. 
Sioux Lookout Food Bank Manager Amanda Landgraff recalled, “Two months later to the day we had the funds committed and raised (to pay for the property).”
The Sioux Lookout Food Bank is hoping to replicate that feat and raise the necessary $170,000 needed to accompany grant funding to pay for phase 2 and 3 of the building project by the end of April.
“We can only be approved for the grant funding we are applying for IF we have a percentage of the needed funds pledged or already received,” the organization shared on Facebook.
Donations can be sent by EMT to siouxfoodbank@gmail.com. Donors are asked to indicate “building fund” in the comments. Receipts will be given for all donations. 
Landgraff said people can also email siouxfoodbank@gmail.com for a mailing address if they wish to send a cheque. 
“We have approached several local businesses (and tribal councils) but basically just putting out a call to anyone willing to make a donation,” Landgraff said.
Best case scenario, Landgraff said excavation and site preparation would take place this spring or summer with construction starting as soon as possible afterwards. Again, best case scenario, Landgraff said the hope would be to have the new building framed in before winter, finish the interior in early winter, and then move into the new space and open as soon as possible.
Landgraff said the new 3000 square foot building will provide many benefits.
Increased client selection, as people will be able to go through the provided food and only take items they can use, as well as choose other items that are to their tastes and needs. This will allow for increased dignity for those who access the food bank. 
Increased storage capacity for both non-perishable and perishable foods, and improved organizational layout for receiving, sorting, packing, and distributing.
Improved work environment for our volunteers, boosting morale and productivity, while ensuring a fully accessible and safe environment with a secondary exit. The new facility will be all on one level and fully accessible.
Landgraff added, “In the new facility we will have the capacity to take on more programs such as food recovery from local restaurants. And further down the road, we hope to have some food growing outside on our property, such as apples, raspberries, rhubarb, tomatoes, and cucumbers that can be free for those who need it.”
The Sioux Lookout Food Bank recently provided a 2024 year in review, in which they indicated they delivered 1147 hampers over the year. The Sioux Lookout Food Bank served 180 households in the Sioux Lookout area with the total number of people living in these households being 608. One third of those people were children aged 0-18 years. 
The Sioux Lookout Food Bank also shared that 55% of the people they served accessed the food bank for the first time in 2024.
“It’s a reminder of how many people are experiencing food insecurity and just that I think too, it’s okay to ask for help. There’s nothing wrong with asking for help. We all need help at different points in our lives, especially when it comes to food, everyone should have access to sufficient food.” 
Landgraff said, “I think if we remained in this small space and the numbers continued to grow it would become harder for us to meet that (need).” 
The Sioux Lookout Food Bank is currently assisted by approximately 70 volunteers.
Landgraff said if anyone would like to request free food support, “Please reach out on Messenger, or by phone or text to 807-738-6896.”