OSHaRE is set to unveil a brand-new family space in Owen Sound at the start of January, offering a more accessible format for its growing food assistance program.
OSHaRE serves hot nutritious meals to anyone in need, six days a week.
Program Manager Pat McDonough said the addition builds on the organization’s Family Assistance Meal Program, which has quickly grown since starting in mid-2024.
"We started that program so that families could get all of the ingredients for a meal and cook it at home, basically," he explained. "So we started out with 12 families, and we're now over 340 families that we're supporting."
He added participation has climbed sharply since the program launched, leading to the creation of a dedicated area in the former Community Foundation offices.
"We discovered that our original space, which was basically our tiny little office, was inadequate for that so we renovated some space that's nearby here, and we'll open it in the new year to support that program," he continued.
McDonough shared that rising costs are leading more families to request assistance.
"By the time they cover their monthly accommodation bill, they often don't have a whole lot left over," he pointed out. "Most of the families we're supporting our working families. So by the time they're done with accommodation costs, if they have to keep a car on the road, there's typically not a whole lot left."
Families will be able to browse and choose items themselves, from fresh fruit to casseroles to school-lunch necessities.
The initiative depends entirely on donated goods and aims to offer both food support and connections to additional resources. McDonough said they couldn't operate without the support of the community.
"Both with financial donations and donations in kind, plus their time," McDonough added. "We have about 140 volunteers that cycle through OSHaRe and help us support those programs. So it's an all around community effort."
