Following the fire that destroyed the interior of the House of Lazarus Food Bank in South Mountain on April 25, 2023, the insurance claim has finally been approved. For more than a year, the House of Lazarus has been operating out of a temporary location in Mountain, generously provided by Willis Kerr Contracting. Even in the days immediately following the fire – which took place in the organization’s Food Bank located in the former Scotiabank building – House of Lazarus was still providing food to those in need, operating out of the agricultural hall down the street.
The insurance money will provide a fresh start for the House of Lazarus Food Bank. “It has been a year since the fire in South Mountain happened. We are happy that we have worked through the insurance process and are now ready to pursue a permanent location for our food bank”, said Cathy Ashby, executive director of House of Lazarus.
The organization will not return to the former location, and the Board of Directors are actively pursuing next steps. It is unclear what will become of the burned building, which is still standing and appears structurally sound, though with a badly burned interior.
House of Lazarus is a non-profit organization that works with the community to ensure that people have the basics of life. It operates a large boutique and thrift store in Mountain, a Food Bank elsewhere in Mountain (new location to be determined), and a thrift store and Food Cupboard in Ingleside. For more information, visit hol.community
