The Gathering Place outgrows need for Garden

By Richard Coffin

The Gathering Place won’t be operating the community garden on Algonquin Avenue, near McLaren Street any longer. 

This is after Council approved a request by the community kitchen to end its lease of the property.  

“The board made a decision last year to let the garden go,” says Peter Gregory, Board Chair.  “Because of our efforts with the great support we get from the merchants of North Bay through the food rescue program, we no longer need the garden.”

He says they receive food from all the major grocery stores and other retailers in the city.   

Gregory also says there were costs with the garden.  

“There were expenses attributed to the garden for staffing, and we felt that volunteerism was the way of the future for The Gathering Place, rather than hiring people,” he says.  

The community kitchen adjusted its hours, and meal counts last year to cut costs, with Gregory saying operations are going smoothly.  

“We have just under 100 people being fed every day,’ he says. “But now we have our Friday night meal from 4-6 pm and it’s starting to pick up.  I believe we had about 20 [families] this past Friday.”  

Gregory adds that meal is for families only, who are also given frozen meals to take home and serve later in the week.  

“Now we’re getting to the working poor and to be honest with you they need our help,” he says.  

According to the motion passed by council on Tuesday night, The Gathering Place had been leasing the garden property since 2015.  

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