By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—A recent report released by Food Banks Canada has revealed that food bank usage is increasing at steady rates across the country. The report shows overall usage in March 2022 to be 35% higher than it was in March 2019, before COVID.
Other stats contained within the report show that 33% of food bank users are children, 9% are seniors, and 49% are on social assistance.
The Press spoke with representatives from three local food banks, the Caledonia and District Food Bank, the Hagersville Food Bank, and the Dunnville Salvation Army.
All three reported concerning increases in line with the national report.
“If I compare the same time period from 2019 and 2022, if we take out the COVID stuff, we have seen an increase of 30% here locally,” said Joy Quail, Community Development Coordinator, Dunnville Salvation Army. “We used to see one or two new households every month, right now we’re seeing seven new households every month as our average…. It’s the reality.”
Dorrette Allemang, Manager of the Caledonia food bank, added, “I just did my fiscal year-end report. We had 523 more visits this year compared to last year,” she said, noting that the food bank spent an additional $1,516 on grocery purchases for August and September compared to the same time last year.
Karen Leatherbarrow, Chair of the Hagersville location, said, “We are helping visitors that haven’t been here in three or four years, as well as new folks who have never been here before, as well as folks who are new to the area. It’s been exactly what has been predicted; that the hit would be hardest 18-24 months after the beginning of the pandemic. Those numbers are supported and it’s scary out there.”
All three listed the obvious cost-of-living increases as the main driver behind the higher demand for food banks.
“The cost of housing is the biggest thing,” said Quail. “When your rent takes 70% of your income to begin with and everything else going up, there’s no wiggle room at all for anything.”
Leatherbarrow said those living on social assistance don’t see their monthly cheques rise to meet inflation: “Any kind of money that comes through them is locked in. It does not allow for current rate of rental. Rate increases are regular…. They can’t keep up.”
She said the Hagersville location is expecting a 25% increase in requests for Christmas hampers this year, adding, “We provide hampers for not just our regular visitors who come here, but also through social services if they have a request.”
Allemang said that while most of their clients are on either unemployment or disability, “We also see people that are working but just not making enough to pay the rent, and now, as everyone knows, the increased cost of groceries. With us helping them with groceries, they have more money to pay the rent and don’t have to choose ‘should I eat this month or not get kicked out of my apartment?’”
“We all take a deep breath when we’re leaving the grocery store right about now. It’s shocking at times when you leave the checkout,” added Leatherbarrow. “Over time those increases all of a sudden start to hurt. We don’t pry, but there is a certain sense of relief when they come, although it’s hard for them to decide to come.”
Along with the increase in users, the report highlights how the demographics of users are changing.
“We have seen an increase of seniors over the last five years…. In the last nine months, we’ve seen more people who have some sort of employment coming in as well,” said Quail, noting that seniors are more likely to be impacted by high medication costs.
Leatherbarrow added, “We have a lot of single people that come, but the greatest increase of the last few months has been families with young children.”
Exacerbating the situation is the infrequency of typical food drives over the past two years, driven by pandemic protocols, which has left local food banks depleted.
“With the cost of everything increasing so much, our numbers are getting higher, and our donations are getting less,” said Allemang.
Highlighting the issue, Quail shared, “For all of 2019 we received 42,858 pounds of food through food drives and donations. This year so far our total is 16,303 pounds of food.”
She added, “We’re definitely at the lowest point of donations we’ve been at during the 12 years I’ve been here,” noting her hope is that with community groups meeting again, donations will increase in tandem. “We also know inflation is hard on everyone. Maybe the donations aren’t going to be quite the same.”
She said that while the Dunnville food bank hasn’t had to turn anyone away, they don’t have the choice or the amount they used to have: “You would think pasta and sauce would be a staple, well, we haven’t had sauce for some time.”
With the holiday season nearly here, all three locations mentioned the need for community support to ensure they can serve every client that comes through the door and can hand out as many Christmas hampers as needed.
“We’re getting ready for our Christmas Kettle campaign. We’re looking for volunteers to come stand with our kettles and help with that. That’s our major fundraiser that helps us operate for the rest of the year,” said Quail. “We haven’t met our goal on that in the last three years. That is crucial for us right now.”
Allemang said the needs of the Caledonia bank mirror Dunnville; money for operations, food for clients, and a Christmas hamper ‘wish list’ of non-perishables and gifts.
“I just see the need increasing. We’re always hopeful that things will change, but that’s the situation right now,” said Allemang. “I know the Caledonia community has always been very supportive. I know that together we can have enough for everyone.”
Leatherbarrow said the Hagersville community continually surprises her: “We just have the most wonderful donors on a regular basis that take care of us. We’re extremely fortunate.… It’s overwhelming sometimes and it’s humbling.”
She concluded, “We would love to not be here, to close our doors because there’s no need for us anymore, but it doesn’t look like that is going to happen anytime soon.”
