A group that has been attempting to feed the hungry in downtown Belleville has responded to the downtown business association’s request for help to deal with social disturbances in the core.

NOT ALONE TEAM Quinte founder Debbie Pike posted to Facebook a response to comments made by representatives of the Downtown District BIA Monday night at council.

During those comments, the BIA referred to disturbances and problems in the downtown caused by transient people in the core.

They also referred to an “unplanned food program at the Market Square” as being on the “flip side” from positive changes in the core.

Pike’s post states it is “NOT ALONE TEAM Quinte’s take on the BDIA’s attempt to blame our program for the unwanted traffic downtown.”

“The program we ran downtown was attracting people, not attracting more of those with mental health downtown,” she wrote, adding that “90 per cent  of all services available to access for those with mental health are already downtown.”

Among the services she listed as being downtown are probation, mental health and addictions, housing resources, freedom center, Inn from the Cold, Salvation Army, Ontario Works, the court houses, and Grace Inn.  

She said the Not Alone team had many positive responses to what it did, not only from those it was helping directly but others, including members of Belleville Police Service.

“We provided a much-needed meal program in the heart of downtown when no other programs were available,” she stated. “It took under two hours per day to assemble and clean up and never did we have any serious problems.

“With the help of the community, including those that just came out to serve we attracted many walks of life to both serve, help and cook… including many businesses downtown, not to mention schools, sports teams and the cadets.

“The police often came by and spoke with us and told us that the petty crime rates were going down because people could eat so they were not stealing food from the grocery stores,” she wrote.

Pike stated the group also worked with many of the restaurants and the market vendors not only welcomed the group but helped fundraise and donated to the group

“We attracted people and many tourists and those traveling through also came by and were overwhelmed by the hearts of those that served,” she stated.

“We had a few of our travelers donate meals and pizza for the meal program, and not only served but came to eat too. We truly brought a broken city together and we were able every day to grow as a city. And for those two hours each day we made friends and grew as a community.”

Not Alone Team – Quinte can be reached through its Facebook page.