LOOKING AHEAD 2023: Food banks, advocates in York, Simcoe predict more food insecurity

Organizations working to meet growing demand, however, there is a concern the need is starting to outpace capacity

Yorkregion.com
Jan. 11, 2023
Simone Joseph

Carolyn Khan has seen a rise in need that caught her attention as well as that of others who work at food banks.

“We’re seeing an increase in people needing food banks even post-pandemic,” said Khan, executive director of Bradford’s Helping Hand Food Bank. “The numbers are still increasing. The increase has to do with more than the pandemic,” she said, pointing to cost of living, especially the cost of rent, as the culprit.

In September 2021, Helping Hand served 672 people as part of its meal program; By November 2022, that number had jumped to 1,250 people.

“We haven’t seen the worst of it,” Khan said.” “January and February will be hard. All the social services will see an increase in need. I think this is because the cost of food is exorbitant.”

Kate Greavette, executive director of York Region Food Network, also predicts a tough year.

“We’ll see an increase in people living with food insecurity,” she said.

The network runs a meal program, has spread food literacy and is part of a food council.

“We’ve all been hit hard by food prices,” Greavette said. “More and more Canadians are relying on services offered by charities and non-profits.”

Greavette thinks this will not shift unless Ontario Works, ODSP and old age pension offer more income.

Feed Ontario’s 2022 Hunger Report reveals skyrocketing food bank use, with a 64 per cent increase in first-time visitors, and points to the lack of quality employment opportunities and disinvestments in essential social support programs as the drivers of this growth.

“Without immediate actions, food banks may be unable to meet the demand in the province should the current pressures on the system continue,” Carolyn Stewart, executive director, Feed Ontario, said.

Food banks are working to meet the growing demand; however, there is a concern that the need in the province is starting to outpace the capacity of the provincial food bank network, according to the 2022 Hunger Report. Feed Ontario is the province's largest collective of hunger-relief organizations. A recent survey of 140 food banks revealed that two out of three food banks have experienced a noticeable decrease in food donations. Also, one in five food banks have not been able to purchase the same volume of food due to higher food prices.

Peter Wixson has seen first-hand the impact rising food prices can have on a food bank.

At The Vaughan Foodbank, volunteers usually give away 1,200 Christmas turkeys. This year, the food bank only received 260 turkeys to donate.

Wixson, the foodbank’s executive director, attributes this change to the high cost of turkeys and the financial situation most donors are in.

At the Helping Hand Food Bank, need has been so great that the food bank has outgrown its premises.

The Bradford food bank is housed in a 1,200-square-foot house and will move to a new space, likely in fall 2023.

Staff and volunteers warn visitors to dress warmly since they have to wait outdoors because there’s not enough room for people to come in.

The food bank tries to have a limit of four volunteers per shift since, as Khan said, “We don’t want to be shoulder to shoulder.”

The York Region Food Network runs a weekly community meal program that reveals the increasing need. In 2019, there were 1,051 breakfasts served. By the end of 2022, the network will have served more than 7,100 breakfasts.

“The number of community meals has gone up dramatically, but the budget has stayed the same,” Greavette said. “We’ve been grappling (with it),” she said.

“How are we going to keep on doing this?” Greavette asked, pointing to increasing costs.

But Khan believes with Helping Hand’s move, positive change is ahead.

“There’s hope on the horizon,” Khan said. “Our new location will be very good for us. It’ll allow improvements in our operation. It will be a more dignified shopping experience.”