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. , I \‘ _/ *\ I“ A \ a, ’1'} e. \ ,’ {VJ} Ci/ ‘~._/ ’ v \' ‘ A \ /" "x_,/\_,./"-= ‘ ~ "\ /V\_, .x‘ Tweed Food Bank co-ordinator; Joy Tufts retires by Brian Dunning Tweed â€" After six years of service Joy Tufts has re- tired as volunteer co- ordinator at the Tweed and Area Food Bank. Ms. Tufts, who has served in various volunteer positions in the community, handed over the reins co-ordinator of the Food Bank to Joyce McAllister last month. On Jan. 6‘h Food Bank volun- teers, gathered at the Gate- way Community Health Cen- tre to bid goodbye to Ms. Tufts and welcome Ms. McAllister. On that occasion Joy was presented with parting gifts by the volun- teers to show their appreciaâ€" tionfor all the hard work she has done to ensure needy families don’t go hungry. Ms. McAllister and her husband Lawrence moved to Tweed three and a halt years ago with their two chilâ€" dren. Ms. McAllister said she decided to offer to volunteer as she considers the Food Bank “to bea very worthy cause.” She knows of what she speaks. She told the volâ€" unteers, “I’ve been on the other side of the'table,” ex- plaining there was a time in her life that she and her famâ€" ily had to turn to a food bank to make ends meet. “I feel for the people who come to us. I know how difâ€" ficult it must be for some,” Group. She is a chef by trade WOrking in a retirement home in Kingston so she briIlgs strong organizational Skills to the position of coâ€" orCliIlator. Her husband Law- renCe is the editor of the MadOC Review and Stirling NeWSâ€"Argus. She told the volunteers She knew she was follow- ing in the footsteps of a hard- working volunteer in Joy Tufts indicating she Was happy to take over the p0§i_ tio“ and give something back to the community. After the Sun published an article in October noting the Food Bank was looking for a new coâ€"ordinator Ms. McAllister approached Joy CXpressing interest. At that time Joy told the Sun, “I reâ€" ally hope she takes the job. She’s perfect for it.” Joy has been with the Food Bank since it began in 1996. At that time Gleaners Food Bank in Belleville asked the Tweed Ministerial Assoâ€" ciation to start a food bank in Tweed. Gleaners provided the initial help to start the food bank and continue to SUpport it. Over the years Joy and her volunteers have helped hundreds of families. They provide a service they would just as soon not have to but as long as there is a need they will be there to help_ Joy told the volunteers that thanks to the generosity of area residents, the churches of the Ministerial collected a lot of food Over Christmas and now our storeroom is full. One church, she said, collected mittens, which are being given to children of their cli- ents. Volunteers on hand to welcome Ms. McAllister and say goodbye to Joy inâ€" cluded Sandi Marrow, Florâ€" ence Hunt, Ann Wagner, Anita Obsorne, Anne‘and Robert McPhail, Arthur and Kathleen Went, Virginia PeIry and Kathy Chalk. "All she said. This is her way of paying back the help she reâ€" ceived. “I’m glad to help,” she said noting she still is learning and is open to sug- gestions. MS. McAllister is also a leader with, the Tweed Scout- Tweed - Joy Tufts, (right), has retired as volunteer co-ordirzazor at the Tv’eed Food Bank. That position is now being filled by Joyce McAllister, (left). ”