Social justice advocate to lead Cambridge Self-Help food bank
CAMBRIDGE — Cameron Dearlove looks for people on the fringes.
He advocates for those who often can’t be heard and tries to make them feel a part of the community.
The Cambridge resident has a proven track record when it comes to social justice. He has worked as an employment counsellor at The Working Centre, was co-ordinator at the Family Centre, assisting nonprofits, and most recently, led Bridges to Belonging Waterloo Region, an agency that assists people with disabilities.
On Monday, he takes on a new role. Dearlove has been appointed executive director of the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank.
“It’s a gem of an organization,” the 36-year-old father said Tuesday. “It meets an immediate need and it provides an incredible safety net for those who need it.”
He said he knows he has big shoes to fill in replacing Pat Singleton, who was the face of the food bank for more than two decades until her retirement.
“It’s hard to imagine the organization without her here,” said Dearlove, who will spend the first two weeks on the job with Singleton.
As the new leader, he plans to expand the reach of the food bank by introducing the agency to those who may not have heard of it. He also hopes to increase the amount of healthy food and “not just whatever is available” for food bank clients.
Dearlove, who’s run for regional council and as an NDP candidate in Kitchener Centre, said he wants to build on existing relationships with neighbourhood associations and serve people where they live.
In addition to providing emergency food support for 721 families a month, the agency runs a food co-op in which 497 families pick up food monthly. It also runs nutrition and lunch programs, and offers spiritual care and street outreach.
It provides food to 27 community organizations.
Jeff Darroch, chair of the food bank’s board, said Dearlove is a “strong fit” because his personal characteristics and demeanour are in line with the organization.
Darroch said the strategic plan for the food bank includes expanding its warehouse space to offer more fresh produce and building relationships with those offering food, including grocery stores.