Food Banks face higher costs, lower donations as demand rises
The Food Bank of Waterloo Region has not been able to purchase the same volume or quality of food due to higher food prices, but the demand for usage has only been increasing.
This comes as a new report from Feed Ontario, formally the Ontario Association of Food Banks, said this is the sixth consecutive year that food bank use has increased across the province.
“At the grocery store bins, we are definitely down," said Kim Wilhelm, the interim CEO of the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
The higher prices mean the food bank has to be more selective in their purchases.
“We needed to make a significant purchase of canned fruit, and the only canned fruit that we could get at the time was canned pineapple,” said Wilhelm.
Connie Becker has been volunteering to organize food at House of Friendship for nearly 20 years but has also been on the receiving side.
“Everyone needs help. That's just the way things are nowadays. There's no shame in it, some people think there is, but I think there's no shame in it,” said Becker.
Fellow volunteer Dean Schmidt said he also takes a food hamper home from time to time.
“With the way things are right now, it’s hard to be able to put food on the table,” said Schmidt.
Not only is food bank use on the rise, but the statistics of who is using food banks have also been shifting.
“When we talk about need and poverty, they are not always visible. We are seeing working families attend our food programs,” said Dauda Raji, community development manager at House of Friendship.
According to feed Ontario, which surveyed food bank users between April 2021 and March 2022, roughly 46 per cent said they needed assistance because of the cost of food.
Feed Ontario said the government needs to do more.
“The social safety net has been dismantled over time, and during this time of uncertainty, food banks are having to fill the gaps left by poor public policy decisions,” said Carolyn Stewart, Feed Ontario executive director.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.