This is a major donation season for food banks, but both donations from corporations and individuals have decreased significantly due to the recession. On the other hand, however, the number of food banks users has reached a record high. If the situation persists, the OAFB’s 120 food banks might have to turn away clients because of a lack of food to distribute.
OODF BANK USERS INCREASE EVERY WEEK
The HungerCount study, released last week by Food Bank Canada, set alarms ringing on the poverty situation in Canada by striking numbers — 794,738 Canadians in March 2009 used food banks services, an increase of 17.6 percent, or 120,000 people, compared to March 2008.
It was the largest increase since 1997. Ontario saw the second highest increase in the use of food banks, with 20 percent more Ontarians turning to food banks. Alberta was first, with an increase of 61 percent. Over 350,000 Ontarians are relying on assistance from food banks to carry on their lives.
Spence told Xinhua that approximately 40 percent of those served by food banks in Ontario are children, over 20 percent are with disabilities, and 20 percent work or have recently lost their job. Among them, one third are new immigrants.
“Among them, many are new faces,” says David Smith, executive director and CEO of the Scott Mission, one of the local food banks located in downtown Toronto area. “When the recession began last year, we see a steady increase in the number of food bank users every week.”
The Scott Mission is a charity that usually focuses on the needs of the homeless, but it now also provides food to more and more people who have never relied on handouts before.
“People from all over the city, even from Mississauga (about 20 kms west of Toronto), come to our service for food, because they just couldn’t get enough food,” Smith added. The mission serves 85- 90 families every day.
According to the HungerCount survey, almost 73,000, or 9.1 percent of the total — were first-time food bank users.
RISING UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD PRICES TO BLAME
Growing unemployment and continually increasing food prices are the major reasons behind the rising numbers of people turning to food banks, Spence told Xinhua.
In Ontario alone, over 225,000 full-time jobs have been lost over the past twelve months, thanks to the recession. Many high- paying manufacturing jobs have been lost.
However, 19 percent of households that turn to food banks for help are living on income from current or recent employment.
“Lots of people (who use Scott Mission’s food bank service) are marginally employed, with part time jobs, contracts, as such,” Smith said.
This figure should be a wake-up call to the society, said Ernie Lightman, a professor of social policy of Social Work Faculty at the Toronto University, who has 30-year experience in the field.
“That means too many jobs don’t pay well enough. Because we don ‘t have a social safety net — a support system can help these people,” he said. “For example, we are among very few developed countries that don’t have a system of child care. With such a system in place, women can go to work and support their families.”
According to a special report released by OAFB in October 2009, the price of groceries continues to rise at a rate well beyond inflation in Canada. Key items like milk, baby food, pasta and peanut butter have risen substantially since January of last year due to increased oil and fertilizer prices,
This resulted in higher operational costs for food banks. They have to stretch their budgets for food purchases and other household basics. Seventy three percent of food banks are spending more money on food in 2009, compared to 2008, and average monthly expenditures on food by Ontario’s food banks have increased by 84. 2 percent, OFAB said.
OFAB predicted that 54 percent of food banks will be over budget on food purchases in 2009. The report also discloses that one in four food banks has reduced the average amount of food distributed in their hampers.
“For example, a loaf of bread may be cut into two. Some food banks have to reduce their hamper sizes — a hamper may have 8 items instead of 10 items.”
“We run out of meat, vegetable and rice every day,” said Smith, “plus because we don’t have enough spaces and facilities to store fresh food, so we give away non perishable food — most of food in cans and packages.”
OODF BANK USERS INCREASE EVERY WEEK
The HungerCount study, released last week by Food Bank Canada, set alarms ringing on the poverty situation in Canada by striking numbers — 794,738 Canadians in March 2009 used food banks services, an increase of 17.6 percent, or 120,000 people, compared to March 2008.
It was the largest increase since 1997. Ontario saw the second highest increase in the use of food banks, with 20 percent more Ontarians turning to food banks. Alberta was first, with an increase of 61 percent. Over 350,000 Ontarians are relying on assistance from food banks to carry on their lives.
Spence told Xinhua that approximately 40 percent of those served by food banks in Ontario are children, over 20 percent are with disabilities, and 20 percent work or have recently lost their job. Among them, one third are new immigrants.
“Among them, many are new faces,” says David Smith, executive director and CEO of the Scott Mission, one of the local food banks located in downtown Toronto area. “When the recession began last year, we see a steady increase in the number of food bank users every week.”
The Scott Mission is a charity that usually focuses on the needs of the homeless, but it now also provides food to more and more people who have never relied on handouts before.
“People from all over the city, even from Mississauga (about 20 kms west of Toronto), come to our service for food, because they just couldn’t get enough food,” Smith added. The mission serves 85- 90 families every day.
According to the HungerCount survey, almost 73,000, or 9.1 percent of the total — were first-time food bank users.
RISING UNEMPLOYMENT, FOOD PRICES TO BLAME
Growing unemployment and continually increasing food prices are the major reasons behind the rising numbers of people turning to food banks, Spence told Xinhua.
In Ontario alone, over 225,000 full-time jobs have been lost over the past twelve months, thanks to the recession. Many high- paying manufacturing jobs have been lost.
However, 19 percent of households that turn to food banks for help are living on income from current or recent employment.
“Lots of people (who use Scott Mission’s food bank service) are marginally employed, with part time jobs, contracts, as such,” Smith said.
This figure should be a wake-up call to the society, said Ernie Lightman, a professor of social policy of Social Work Faculty at the Toronto University, who has 30-year experience in the field.
“That means too many jobs don’t pay well enough. Because we don ‘t have a social safety net — a support system can help these people,” he said. “For example, we are among very few developed countries that don’t have a system of child care. With such a system in place, women can go to work and support their families.”
According to a special report released by OAFB in October 2009, the price of groceries continues to rise at a rate well beyond inflation in Canada. Key items like milk, baby food, pasta and peanut butter have risen substantially since January of last year due to increased oil and fertilizer prices,
This resulted in higher operational costs for food banks. They have to stretch their budgets for food purchases and other household basics. Seventy three percent of food banks are spending more money on food in 2009, compared to 2008, and average monthly expenditures on food by Ontario’s food banks have increased by 84. 2 percent, OFAB said.
OFAB predicted that 54 percent of food banks will be over budget on food purchases in 2009. The report also discloses that one in four food banks has reduced the average amount of food distributed in their hampers.
“For example, a loaf of bread may be cut into two. Some food banks have to reduce their hamper sizes — a hamper may have 8 items instead of 10 items.”
“We run out of meat, vegetable and rice every day,” said Smith, “plus because we don’t have enough spaces and facilities to store fresh food, so we give away non perishable food — most of food in cans and packages.”
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