Charlottetown charity needs more volunteers for community fridges
When Betty Begg-Brooks started Gifts From the Heart out of her own home in 2013, 111 families showed up on the first day. That’s when she knew she needed to do something more.
The charity has grown and she now serves at least 2,000 families a month, plus 15-to-20 per day at each of her community fridges.
“Somebody from government phoned me up and asked me if I would consider putting a community fridge in. I said no because Gifts from the Heart, so much work here. That’s my thing,” said Begg-Brooks. “Then I decided, by Monday, I called them again and I said, ‘No, I wouldn’t put one up, but I’ll put three up.’”
Those three are in West Royalty, Stratford, and Charlottetown. Begg-Brooks runs them like mini-food banks and she’s looking for eight new volunteers to keep them open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every weekday.
Begg-Brooks said she’s been approached by officials to turn her charity into a provincial food bank, but she said that would limit her ability to give out as much food as she feels she needs to.
Eighty-six volunteers help Begg-Brooks at her headquarters at 10 Maple Hill Avenue in Charlottetown.
“We came to the island about a year ago, and Betty was one of the first people who helped us, with bedding, and a table, chairs, crockery,” said Faraz Hasan. “I was a client here first, and then ever since I’ve been volunteering here.”
Much of what Begg-Brooks gives out is donated, but only high quality items.
“The expensive things, the women’s and men’s products that they don’t get, and shampoo and that kind of thing, and diapers,” said Begg-Brooks. “Nothing goes in our community fridges unless it’s new.”
She said she looks over the donations to ensure nothing she wouldn’t use herself goes out to anyone in need.
They have a particular need right now.
“Warm blankets, pillows, and warm footwear,” said Hasan. “People coming to the island don’t know how cold Canada is, and a lot of the immigrants don’t have and idea of what shoes to get.”
Begg-Brooks has been recognized by government many times, receiving Queen’s Jubilee Medal and the Governor General’s Meritorious Service Decoration, but doesn’t like to talk about that.
Instead, she said it’s actually helping people that’s important.
For more Prince Edward Island news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6943621.1719510587!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Watch Live Now: Canadian analysis ahead of the CNN Presidential Debate
U.S. President Joe Biden and former president Donald Trump are set to go head-to-head tonight in the first of two planned presidential debates. Here's how to watch the CNN Presidential Debate, Power Play's pre- and post-debate specials, and follow along in our real-time CTVNews.ca live expert analysis and commentary by debate and body-language experts.
'Hanging on for her life': Sask. family desperate to bring home sick niece from Philippines
For half a decade, a Saskatoon family has been trying to bring their orphaned niece to Canada, they say now it’s a matter of life or death.
'No additional flights will be cancelled': WestJet avoids strike as feds order binding arbitration
A potential strike by WestJet airplane mechanics would upend travel plans for 250,000 customers over the Canada Day long weekend, the airline says — and cost it millions of dollars.
BREAKING Nunavut judge sentences Toronto woman to 3 years prison for Inuit identity fraud
A Nunavut judge has sentenced a Toronto woman to three years in prison in a case of Inuit identity fraud.
Canada's top court rejects appeal from Sask. man who murdered wife
The Supreme Court of Canada has rejected an application from a Saskatoon man who murdered his wife.
Where do new Canadians come from? India and Philippines take top spots
Canada has welcomed more than 3.9 million new citizens since 2005, with nearly one third coming from India, the Philippines or China, according to a CTVNews.ca analysis.
Marilyn Monroe's former Los Angeles home declared a historic monument to save it from demolition
Fans of Marilyn Monroe have won a battle to preserve her mark on Los Angeles and are a step closer to seeing a towering statue of the silver screen icon remain in Palm Springs.
Man charged with threatening to kill presidential candidates found dead as jury was deciding verdict
A New Hampshire man charged with threatening the lives of presidential candidates last year has been found dead while a jury was deciding his verdict, according to court filings Thursday.
AI regulation 'a start,' needs to 'have teeth': Hinton, godfather of AI, says
So-called godfather of AI Geoffrey Hinton says he's 'pleased' governments are starting to take artificial intelligence, and the possible regulations of it, seriously.