Civic recognition honours foodbank founder Linda Downey
Administrator | Jan 15, 2025 | Comments 1

Linda Downey with the civic recognition award presented by Mayor Steve Ferguson and councillor Corey Engelsdorfer. – Photo from Shire Hall
Mayor Steve Ferguson declared Prince Edward County council took great pride in recognizing Wellington’s Linda Downey for her exemplary level of volunteerism as the founder and president (now retired) of the Wellington Storehouse Foodbank.
“You met those in need with kindness and comfort and went beyond simply being charitable and became a mechanism through which charity could be accomplished,” he stated at Tuesday night’s council meeting where he presented a civic recognition certificate on behalf of council.
“Through the years, you built the network necessary to ensure no person in our community was left out, or left behind…. You have touched more lives than you will ever know.
“The Storehouse Foodbank has acted as a lifeline to food, clothing, household goods, advice and connections to other organizations.”
He reminded that Downey has received numerous community and organization volunteer awards over the years, including Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year, Community Champion, and last spring, the provincial June Callwood Achievement Award.
Wellington councillor Corey Engelsdorfer made the nomination for the certificate and spoke to how she came to start the organization in 2007.
“Linda was a single mom for eight years before she met her husband, Bob, and she relied on a Christmas hamper. He read a quote from Downey that appeared in The Wellington Times newspaper in 2014.
“I actually remember sitting at home thinking ‘What am I going to do?’, and crying, because I had two little girls and I had nothing for Christmas. I was in school trying to get adult re-education, taking computer classes.
“So while living in Belleville, the group of Seventh Day Adventists visited her home with a Christmas hamper filled with food and toys. She hadn’t reached out for help. It came to her.
“She collapsed in tears and she made a promise that day to pay it forward,” said Engelsdorfer. “I think we can all say with confidence that Linda has done that and more.”
“For Linda, the foodbank was a full-time, year-round job, with a break only on Christmas. She wasn’t paid to do it; nor was she reimbursed for driving around the County picking up food, clothing and furniture being donated.
“It was never a question of money, but of paying forward the kindness she received in her worst moments.”
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A truly well deserved recognition for an amazing Lady. Linda is a great example of a true humanitarian that always gave everything to our Community. She is a role model to all and a outstanding person.