ARICHAT - Richmond County's five food banks will once again share in a $10,000 pot of municipal funds as part of an annual pre-Christmas tradition. However, as a result of a vote taken at this week's regular council meeting, the funds will be distributed differently in order to ensure that all five food banks are treated fairly and equally.

The funds were originally split evenly between the five council districts, with each receiving $2,000. However, the arrival of a food bank in Potlotek First Nation - which finally has a permanent home as a result of a building constructed in the Mi'kmaq community over the past three months - meant that District Five was forced to divide its $2,000 allocation between two food banks. This led to friction between the councilor at the time, Jason MacLean, and the remainder of Richmond Municipal Council. 

By contrast, the five newly-elected councilors tackling the issue at this month's Committee of the Whole meeting were willing to share in their funds to create a new formula that was approved at the regular Richmond council meeting held earlier this week. As a result, District Five's two food banks will now receive $3,000, while each of the other four districts will receive $1,750.

Noting that the Arichat-based Isle Madame Food Bank is shared between Districts One and Two, the councilors for these Isle Madame districts - Shawn Samson and Michael Diggdon, respectively - stressed the need for each elected representative to show a spirit of generosity at this time of year, particularly in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting social-distancing protocols in Nova Scotia. 

In addition to the food banks in Arichat, L'Ardoise and Potlotek, the funds confirmed this week will also be shared by the Louisdale Food Bank, located in District Three, and the St. Peter's Food Bank, located in District Four.