Food Banks Canada has released its 2022 hungry count document entitled From a Storm to a Hurricane. Local statistics are reflective of the national trends.
Savanna Dee, manager of Powell River Action Centre Food Bank, said nationally, there were nearly 1.5 million people who were fed by food banks in March 2022. She said there is a statistical breakout such as how many are children, their ages, what is the demographic, are they new to Canada, are they Indigenous? Figures such as income are also listed in the national hunger count.
Dee said people making use of food bank services include those who are living on the streets, seniors living on fixed incomes, people on disability pensions, some on income assistance and some are the working poor. She said anyone can access the food bank if they are on the poverty line.
In terms of qathet region figures from June 2021 to June 2022, Dee said 2,671 people visited the local food bank, which represents 528 households.
“We had 95 new clients,” said Dee. “That’s a record and it’s because of COVID-related things.”
She said the national average for children being food bank clients is about 33 per cent and in qathet it is 30 per cent of everyone fed who are children.
Of the clients here where their demographics were precisely tracked, 208 were on disability benefits, 102 on income assistance, 40 on old age pension, plus 41 who were employed and 11 with no income.
Dee said she spends between $90,000 and $120,000 per year on food. She said the bags the food bank packs are budgeted to give as much protein, vegetables and fruit as they can. She said it’s getting tougher to stretch a dollar.
“What used to be a $48 bag is $80 or more now,” said Dee. “We give out bags for one person, two people, families of three or four or more. We are gluten-free, vegetarian, and if there are other specifics, we try to meet them.”
Dee said a bag is supposed to carry the recipient for a week. She said clients can attend the food bank once a month.
Local farmers donate fresh vegetables. She said Aaron Mazurek at Terra Nostra Farm provided more than $17,000 of produce.
“He literally grows organic vegetables for our clients,” said Dee. “It’s amazing. We try to get potatoes, onions and carrots – things you can make a soup out of.”
Dee said from food retailers, she gets special deals. She buys canned tuna by the pallet for 79 cents a can. She is able to buy peanut butter for $1.39 a jar.
“I can definitely make a dollar go further,” said Dee. “I get discounts off the top from the stores and I buy things on sale.”
Dee said she would need another $100,000 per year for people to come twice a month.
Most of the money for the food bank comes in during November and December, so Dee has to be careful in budgeting over the course of a year.
Dee said many residents are going through hard times. She said there is a lot of gratitude from people using the food bank’s services and there have been clients who have come in for assistance, and later on, have sent in significant cheques to help benefit others when they are back on their feet.
“We had a young immigrant woman who escaped her country, came here and needed the food bank,” said Dee. “And then, every year, she would buy us two buggies full of food. People are amazing.”
Dee said there was a single father of two who was beside himself as to how he was going to feed his family.
“As he put it, he was forced to come to the food bank for help,” said Dee. “He was very surprised at the amount of food he received, along with the canned goods and fresh veggies from the local farmers, plus meat.
“There was a single mom of five diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and her ex did not pay child support for months. She literally did not know where her next meal was coming from. She had no car, no money for a bus, so we made up a family hamper and we delivered it to her. We deliver to people in need.”
Dee said a lot of good people in town help to make the food bank what it is.
“We literally could not run this place without the community,” she added.
For people wanting to donate to the food bank, they can make contact at 604.485.9166, or email pracfoodbank@gmail.com.
According to the national report, this year’s food bank usage represents a 15 per cent increase compared to March 2021, and a 35 per cent increase compared to March 2019. Overall, food bank visits have skyrocketed since 2019, with the highest year-over-year increase in usage since the aftermath of the 2008 recession, the report stated.
Stagnant provincial social assistance rates, the end of pandemic-related benefits, and soaring inflation have all affected the ability of individuals in Canada to feed themselves and their families, according to the report.
A drive in support of the food bank is currently underway. FreshCo is partnering with 95.7 Coast FM, Designer Signs and City Transfer to “Stuff the Trailer,” the third annual for the event, taking place until December 10.
