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Employees at Northern Digital Inc on Randall Drive in Waterloo rolled up their sleeves to help the Food Bank of Waterloo Region‘s annual Spring Food Drive. In total, six teams of employees raised more than 7,500 Ib. of food. The winning team, pictured here, collected close to half the total amount collected by employees at the firm. For their efforts, winning team members received camping arm chairs. Spring Food Drive helps fill ongoing need for emergency food services â€" _ (dlick here) . "Wip Aitzzcâ€"~â€"â€"â€"~ort §â€"K Motors Authorized BMW Resoiles â€" 527 King St. N. Wot Teleghone (519) 885 5090 $ wul intel@b kngl Looking For a New mergency food services have Ebecome a permanent part of the local social safety net, says the executive director of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region, an assertion reafâ€" firmed by a recent research study done into the problems with local food secuâ€" rity. "It hasn‘t ever been explicitly said by food banks, but I think implicitly here at the Food Bank of Waterloo Region we recognize that we‘re not a shortâ€"term solution," said Sean Strickland at the launch of the food bank‘s Spring Food Drive last week. "We are an agency that provides a tremendous amount of serâ€" vice to our community, distributing more than three million pounds of donated food. "Food banks have become part of the delivery of social welfare in this country," he said. "You can put your hand up in the air and say that‘s a horâ€" rible, terrible thing, or you can look at ways of better feeding people and offerâ€" ing support to people." "I,()(‘)Ii'mg at ways to better serve the more than 53,000 people living below the poverty line in Waterloo Region was DEBORAH CRANDAu MHOTO O:@Ai FACTORY SHOWROOM 21 Allen St. W. 585â€"1000 By Bos VRrBANAC Chronicle Staff t moi into@bâ€"kmators com ane of the driving forces behind a recently completed study cailed "When the Fridge is Bare", which looks at the food security issue locally. Talking to food bank users, the study found they are often the poorest of the poor, suffering from the cumulative effects of a thousand tiny cuts to Canada‘s ailing social safety net. They are the economic losers that came out of the last recession, ending up earning a little over half of the income level defined by Statistics Canada as the poverty line. There‘s a definite role for governâ€" ment to address the increasing poverty gap in areas like Waterloo region, Strickland said. But until the political will is there, there will be a continuing need for food banks to help fill those gaps. _ "It‘s fair to say we‘re going to be here for a long time," said Strickland. While all levels of government â€" federal, provincial and municipal â€" look into issues like affordable housing, transportation and income security, Strickland said the general public might be ahead of politicians in looking for solutions. Fine Home Furnishs in Uptown Waterloo *% "¢ C 1Ig ngroom Smtes * Be droom Smites Chairs * Office Furniture * 1 an Counter Stools * Hom Continued on page 4 more than just tubl PAGE 3 WATERLIH ECELEERATES E2ARTH D2AY Students celebrate at the Millennium Recreation Park More than 500 students in Grades 3 to 6 are expected to attend Earth Day celebrations April 20 at the Millennium Recreation Park, says Peggy Bednarek, City of Waterloo environmental technologist. Earth Day is an annual iniâ€" tiative promoted by Earth Day Canada, which encourâ€" ages the community to parâ€" ticipate in a variety of activiâ€" ties that protect and restore the environment. In addition to learning about _ the _ Millenniutn Recreation Park‘s many enviâ€" ronmental features and their ecological significance to the community, children will take part in handsâ€"on educational environmental sessions such as aquatic studies, birdâ€"bandâ€" ing demonstrations, groundâ€" water adventures, assemâ€" bling bird houses, handâ€" building with clay, planting native vegetation, and more. Students will also enjoy a halfâ€"hour musical perforâ€" mance by Junkyard Johnny, who takes students on a wonderful thythmic ride into the land of junk to discover how they can reduce, reuse, recycle. "We hope people will learn about the park from both an environmental perspective and a cultural perspective," Bednarek says. "The geology of the lands such as the glacial formations and the Grand River arevery important aspects of the landscape. We hope people of all ages will recognize these features and begin to understand some of the foundations our city is built on." Guest speakers for the oneâ€"day event include Mayor Lynne Woolstencroft and the Honorable Elizabeth Witmer, Minister of the Environment and Kitchenerâ€"Waterloo MPP. Sponsors of the event include Toronto Dominion Bank‘s Friends of the Environment Foundation and Domino‘s Pizza. Other environmental events conducted on a cityâ€" tes * Kitchen & Dining Sers Lamps * Bar & Kitchen ome Accents CS dn hairs wide annual basis range from planting native vegetation and debris cleanâ€"ups, to wildlife habitat creation proâ€" jects. It is hoped these proâ€" grams will be extended to the Millennium Recreation Park. Interpretive signage will be located along the trails and in some of the main buildings, as well as interactive displays which will enlighten and eduâ€" cate visitors as to the environâ€" mental significance of the park and the natural preserâ€" vation that has taken place once the full park is open in September this fall. "We hope the public will find the signs and displays as interesting and exciting as we do," Bednarek says. "Many activities are driven by the public so it is up to the citiâ€" zens to approach us with new ideas for stewardship proâ€" jects." For more information about environmental initiaâ€" tives or any other aspect of the Millennium Recreation Park, visit www.city.waterâ€" loo.on.ca/mrp and watch for biâ€"weekly updates in the Waterloo Chronicle. Eâ€"mail questions and comments to mrp@city.waterloo.on.ca. Leave the car at home In a move to encourage residents to find alternative ways of getting to work, the Region of Waterloo is teaming up â€" with the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo during Earth Week to bring Carless Week to Waterloo Region. This week tesidents will be encouraged to try other ways of getting to and from work, such as cycling, carpooling, walking or taking the bus. "This is an excellent opportunity to try out alternative transportaâ€" B (cick hare) eP Bâ€"K Motors Authorized BMW Retailer â€" 527 King 5t. N. Wat Telophone (519) 885â€"5090 Eâ€"mail info@b kmot Looking For a New Encouraging residents to try other ways of getting to and from work will reduce the ,number of cars on the road and hopefully convince more people to continue using these _ alternate _ choices. Events such as this support the Region‘s Transportation Master Plan, which provides sustainable growth direction, auto reduction goals and alternate transportation iniâ€" tiatives. tion, something that can result in health and environâ€" mental benefits for everyâ€" one," said Regional Chair Ken Seiling. Companies in the Region have been approached to solicit their support for this initiative. By agreeing to parâ€" ticipate, these companies will encourage their employees to leave the car at home and try an alternate way of getting to and from work. Together, companies and their employâ€" ees will be showing their commitment to cleaner air, less road congestion and a healthier, more sustainable community. "Similar to the upcoming Commuter Challenge, this event during Earth Week will provide yet another opportuâ€" nity for residents to strap on their walking shoes, spruce up their bicycle, try transit or find a carpool buddy," said JoAnn Woodhall, the Region‘s transportation demand manâ€" agement planner. Waterloo Communities in Bloom, in cooperation with the City of Waterloo and Home Depotâ€"Waterloo, will present and Earth Day plantiâ€" ng of 1,000 trees and shrubs along Forwell Creek and pond in Waterloo. At the event, which begins at 10 a.m. on Old Lexington Road (right behind the Canadian Tire store on Weber Street North], particiâ€" pants _ will meet Mayor Lynn Woolstencroft and the national Home Depot presiâ€" dent ; receive heavy duty garâ€" den gloves; enjoy refreshâ€" ments; and help plant an Plant a tree Continued on page 7 Eâ€"mail info@bâ€"kmotors.com