Hensall Co-op Invests in Rural Growth

Aug 25, 2025
By Farms.com

Fifth annual Strong Communities Initiative invests $20K in vital projects

Hensall Co-op has announced the recipients of its fifth annual Strong Communities Initiative, a program dedicated to strengthening rural communities by supporting projects that deliver long-term positive impact. This year, the co-op and its employees awarded $20,000 in grants to two main organizations, while also providing additional donations to five others.

The Huron County Food Bank Distribution Centre in Centralia, Ontario, received $10,000 to support its Healthy School Snacks for Kids program. This initiative provides nutritious, school-friendly snacks to 34 schools, reaching approximately 7,000 students in Huron and Perth Counties. By improving access to healthy food, the program helps children perform better in school, increases attendance, and reduces the risk of chronic health issues.

ONE CARE Home & Community Support Services in Clinton, Ontario, was also awarded $10,000. The funding will support its Driven to Care – Vehicle Replacement campaign, which provides accessible transportation for older adults and individuals with health challenges. The program ensures residents in rural areas can reach medical appointments and remain active within their communities.

Recognizing additional community needs, Hensall Co-op also contributed to several smaller but equally important projects.

These include:

funding for an esophageal dilator at Clinton Public Hospital Foundation, Clinton, ON

an accessibility ramp for the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 468 in Hensall, ON

a kitchen renovation at Legion Branch 128 in Mitchell, ON

a wound vacuum for Seaforth Community Hospital Foundation, ON, and

support for a new childcare centre through the Tiny Tater Childcare Cooperative in Carberry, MB

“We received numerous applications highlighting the needs of rural communities. Hensall Co-op is proud to support organizations that play a vital role in our communities,” said Brad Chandler, CEO of Hensall Co-op.

Through these grants, Hensall Co-op continues its commitment to building stronger, healthier, and more sustainable rural communities across Canada.

Photo Credit: Hensall-logo

Video: Alberta Honey: A Day at Molenkamp Honey Farms

When was the last time you read the label on your honey?

We spent a day at Molenkamp Honey Farms with Michael Molenkamp, who has been keeping bees for 17 seasons and runs three to four thousand hives. In mid-September, he was finishing treatments and getting his bees ready for winter, and he walked us through how Alberta honey gets made.

Alberta has just 150 commercial beekeepers running 300,000 colonies, and together they produce 40% of Canada’s honey. Long summer days and golden canola fields give Alberta honey a light flavour that’s hard to match anywhere else.

Molenkamp calls Alberta beekeepers some of the most resilient farmers he knows. There’s plenty of Alberta honey to go around, but a lot on our shelves isn’t from here, so his ask is simple. Give the label a second look and choose honey made by Alberta beekeepers, or buy straight from a beekeeper near you.