Families Struggling to Make Ends Meet Turn to Food Banks to Eat
Canadians struggled for two years as families needed to make sacrifices due to job loss and school closures caused by COVID. Lockdowns forced Canadians into isolation and away from the support systems they had in place. Once Canadians started to return to a sense of normalcy, they were hit again with inflation and rising interest rates. When they couldn’t even catch their breath from one struggle to the next, it isn’t surprising that many Canadians are having trouble making ends meet. Some have to choose between paying bills, rent, and buying food, which means that more people are turning to food banks across Canada.
A report created by Food Banks Canada states there has been a 15% increase in food bank usage between March 2021 and March 2022. This has been the highest increase since the recession of 2008. Racheal Wilson, the CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank, admitted that they are currently swamped, like most food banks across Canada. Wilson stated, “we are seeing unprecedented demand for food banks, and it is continuing to rise dramatically.” Wilson explained that the Ottawa Food Bank would be moving to a larger facility in order to keep up with the new demand for food. Wilson admitted that “1/3 of our clients are children and youths.” This includes individuals 18 and under. People of this age shouldn’t have to worry about where their next meal will come from.
Algonquin College has its own Food Cupboard that supplies food for students. It is located on the Ottawa Campus in room B102. To access the Food Cupboard, you must fill out an intake form and then schedule an appointment. Julia McCann, the Food Cupboard Coordinator, said, “the Food Cupboard this year has seen record-breaking usage,” when asked about the increase in demands on the Food Cupboard since the start of COVID. The Algonquin Food Cupboard was created to assist current and returning students in finding healthy food options when they may not have any other choice. McCann admits that a majority of donations come from staff and departments within Algonquin College.
The encroaching strain that COVID and inflation have caused has hit many families hard, but it is hitting some of Canada’s most vulnerable populations the worse. People living on social assistance, like ODSP (Ontario Disability and Support Program) Ontario Works, barely receive enough funds to pay for their housing, so they depend on food banks for the majority of their food supplies. Food insecure groups also include the working poor, people on minimum wage that aren’t making enough, and low-income racial groups. Wilson says that “ very low social assistance rates have not risen with the cost of living and inflation, leaving people to choose between paying rent and buying food.” There has also been an increase in the number of employed individuals using the services. Wilson explained that “wages are not keeping up with the cost of living due to the impacts of the affordable housing crisis.” Some Canadians only feel the pinch in their wallets, while others struggle to keep their heads above the water. When choosing what needs to be paid, housing and heat usually come before food, so when money is tight, most people will cut food before anything else.
With the increasing demand for these services, we have to start wondering how they can keep up with the demands. As more Canadians find it difficult to feed their own families, is it affecting the donations made to food banks? Food Banks Canada’s report stated that the Stronger Together campaign and concert were able to raise close to $9 million and receive additional funding from the Government of Canada. Last year Food Banks Canada was able to distribute around $99 million to Food Banks throughout Canada. Wilson stated, “Ottawa has always been incredibly generous, and we are grateful for their support.” This was especially important since the hard times we are all facing have resulted in a decrease in donations of money and food to Food Banks across Canada. Luckily Food Banks have industry partners; these companies provide a service, food, or monetary donations to Food Banks across Canada. This allows them to provide food to Canadians with less overhead so they can pass on more food to people who need it.
If you are in a position to donate, there are many ways to do so. If you would like to make food donations, they encourage people to select healthier foods high in fibre and protein to help support the nutrition of our community. Wilson explained that the best way to donate is through monetary donations. The Food Banks are able to stretch each dollar further thanks to industry partners and bulk purchasing. She states, “One dollar donated can purchase about $5 worth of healthy and fresh food to be distributed across the city.” We are all struggling at the moment; between rising food costs, high gas prices, and high cost of living expenses, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Even through all this, we must remember that some people in Canada may be struggling more. So if you find yourself able to donate to Food Banks Canada or our local Ottawa Food Bank, any little bit helps.