Checking in with The Gathering Place: The Devastating Impact of Food Insecurity in 2025

In this week's episode of Echo Essentials, we go behind the scenes at The Gathering Place—North Bay’s frontline solution to food insecurity. Chris Piekarski visits The Gathering Place to sit down with Board Chair Peter Gregory and Operations Manager Alicia Smith to unpack the truth about who really uses the service, how they've slashed costs by 31%, and why sustainable monthly donations are now more critical than ever.From confronting outdated stigmas to showcasing the daily hustle of volunteers, this episode is a raw and eye-opening look into a vital organization doing more with less. Plus, get a sneak peek into their biggest annual fundraiser: Soup’s On—where North Bay’s best soups go head-to-head.Share this episode and be part of the change. If you can, visit https://thegatheringplacenorthbay.ca/ to see how you can help support their mission.