Realtor Volunteers 42 Years to Fight Hunger in Collingwood

After 42 years helping people find their perfect home, Betty Hancey spends her free time ensuring those without homes don't go hungry.

The 70-year-old realtor moved to Collingwood in 1987 with her family, seeking a smaller town where her sons could enjoy snowboarding and the outdoors. She found more than just a great place to raise kids.

Three years ago, Hancey joined Trinity United Church's community programs, starting with simple tasks like setting up tables. Today, she chairs the outreach and social action committee, coordinating 50 volunteers across multiple food security programs.

The church runs a daily food pantry providing emergency supplies to individuals and families. They host a monthly community dinner on the third Wednesday and teach cooking skills through the Susan Wells Crockpot program, where participants learn new recipes and take home their own slow cooker.

The warming closet offers seasonal clothing alongside meals. The team also provides food, snacks, and toiletries to the Busby Centre in South Georgian Bay.

What Hancey has witnessed surprised her. The need has exploded beyond just the homeless population to include people working lower-paying jobs who simply can't make ends meet. The demand for food assistance has grown dramatically in just three years.

Sunny's Take

But amid the growing need, Hancey found something beautiful. Food pantry visitors regularly refuse items to leave them for someone they believe needs them more. That selflessness, she says, has been a blessing to witness.

The dedication of her volunteer team astounds her too. Fifty people donate countless hours because they believe in the work. For Hancey, it's never been about recognition. When asked what she wants people to know, she redirected attention entirely to the church and volunteers making it all possible.

Her path from retail management to real estate was always about helping people navigate important life moments. Now she brings that same heart to those facing their most vulnerable times, one meal and one act of kindness at a time.