When Keon Cunningham’s grandmother, Valentine Anastacio, died in late May, of covid19, his family was unable to hold a traditional funeral.

So, he was determined to find another way to celebrate her life.

On reflection, Cunningham came up with setting up a food bank, as his grandmother loved to see people bonding over food.

In doing this, Cunningham also saw a way to help those whose livelihoods were affected by covid19.

“While going through my grieving process, I sat down and I thought to myself that given we never got a chance to celebrate my grandmum’s life like how we would have wanted it, how best can I make people feel her presence?

“It then struck me that I can do this food bank initiative in my community.

[caption id="attachment_903211" align="alignnone" width="986"] Since late May, Keon Cunningham has operated a food bank in the Biche community which has fed over 200 families in Biche and environs. - Photo courtesy Keon Cunningham[/caption]

“So I went about taking it from my grandmother’s perspective as she was always someone who likes to see people eating and drinking,” said Cunningham, 23, in a recent interview with Sunday Newsday.

At the UWI St Augustine campus, Cunningham did a degree in social work.

Last year he did a course in managing gender-based violence with the UN Population Fund and was also appointed a youth representative on the board of the Children’s Authority.

Located at the Biche Police Station, people interested in collecting or donating items to the food bank can do so by visiting the station from 1-4 pm.

While the food bank is located in Cunningham’s hometown of Biche, anyone from any area can access it.

[caption id="attachment_903210" align="alignnone" width="768"] In honour of his late grandmother, Valentine Anastacio, Keon Cunningham started a food bank. - Photo courtesy Keon Cunningham[/caption]

“Families assisted were from Rio Claro, Plum Mitan...people even called for assistance from as far as Port of Spain.This just goes to show how much you can do with one thought.

“I made it such as way that people can give what they can and also take what they need.

“What I saw with this approach, from a psychological perspective, is that it gave people that sort of empowerment because now you feel included that you’re doing something impactful and making a difference in someone’s life.”

Since the start of the food bank, it has been topped up multiple times with food and grocery items like dry goods, vegetables and chicken parts.

To date, over 200 families have been helped.

Cunningham thanked Raymond Mendoza, an officer at the Biche Police Station, for his help.

Apart from Mendoza, Cunningham said support for the initiative has been strong and from many people from across the country.

“I have been able to give everyone an opportunity to see how my grandmum lived, because she was one of the people who would have been at the Biche RC Primary School.

“She worked there, and a lot of people passed through during her tenure,” said Cunningham on his grandm