As Christmas approaches, many families rely on local food banks to help them through the holiday season.
Fortunately, members of the community continue to show strong support, donating items to keep the shelves stocked at area food banks.
But according to organizers, the need is always there.
“We are so fortunate in Centre Wellington, our community is so supportive, especially at Christmas,” said Jackie Andrews, chair of the board of directors at the Centre Wellington Food Bank.
Andrews noted the demand for help from the food bank has gone up since 2012. Last year Centre Wellington had roughly 127 new clients, and this year it has roughly 157 new clients.
“In 2012 at this time, we had about nine child clients under the age of two, and this year we have about 31,” said Andrews.
She added the food bank not only accepts food donations, but also other necessities such as toilet paper, shampoo, feminine hygiene products, etc.
“When people think of the food bank, they think of food, but other necessities are also very important and they’re not donated as often,” says Andrews.
Marg Rapp, coordinator of the Community Pantry in Mount Forest, says the demand there has also gone up from roughly 30 families last year, to about 50 every month this year; which equals about 130 to 135 individual families overall.
Rapp noted the Community Pantry was low on donations throughout September, but has had many good drives since then. She noted the pantry receives frequent donations this time of year, but they drop off as the weather gets warmer.
“People need to remember we’re here all year and to continue donating during the summer,” says Rapp.
A recent study has shown thousands of Canadians depend on food banks each month in order to feed themselves and their families.
According to the HungerCount 2013, a national study released by Food Banks Canada, in a typical month, food banks in Canada are now providing food to roughly 833,000 people and nearly four in 10 of those are children. The HungerCount 2013 study also found that:
– each month 80,000 Canadians are forced to ask for help from a food bank for the first time;
– nearly 40,000 people helped each month are seniors with incomes too low to afford enough food; and
– one in six households assisted by food banks do have employment income, but still are unable to make ends meet.
Bev May, who has been the co-ordinator at the Harriston Food Bank for 23 years, says the demand in Harriston has remained steady since last year. She explained the food bank was once used only in emergencies, but that is no longer the case.
“I have a rule that people can only come once a month, so that it’s fair to the people who do manage their money,” said May.
“If you let certain people come whenever they want, all your resources would be gone.”
Jeff DeVries, volunteer manager of the Drayton Food Bank for about a year now, says about 100 individual families use the food bank consistently, and about 30 receive emergency and/or holiday food hampers.
With colder weather moving in, hydro bills are increasing, which means families are spending more on bills to stay warm and have less to spend on food.
“There is still a shockingly high number of people that are turning to the food bank to ease the burden of having to choose food over another basic necessity,” Erika Westcott, a manager with East Wellington Community Services (EWCS), stated in a press release.
“These statistics are such a sad reality, considering the prosperity of Canada as a nation.”
EWCS, which looks after food banks in the villages of Erin and Rockwood, serving the larger communities of Erin and Guelph-Eramosa, has seen a 13% increase in need for the food bank program, with many being seniors on a fixed income unable to cover their expenses or young families finding it difficult to make ends meet.
“With so many needing this program, it makes it a challenge to make sure we have enough food on our shelves to help provide the support they need, along with supporting them through the Christmas season, so that they are not excluded from celebrating the holiday because of their circumstance,” said Westcott in a press release.
Over 100 individual families depend on the Erin and Rockwood food banks each month, and the need continues to rise.
“It’s always in the forefront of people’s minds during the holidays, but the need is all year round,” Westcott told the Advertiser. She said between the two locations, about 33,000 pounds of food has been distributed on an annual basis.
About 200 families have accessed the Palmerston Food Bank at least once within the last two years.
Although the demand for help from the Palmerston Food Bank has gone up about five per cent from 2012, Barb Burrows, chair of the board, says, “We are truly blessed with phenomenal community support, we are so fortunate to live in such a giving community. We hardly ever have to ask for anything. We are extremely grateful.”
Approximately 25 to 30 families currently use the Arthur Food Bank.
“It starts getting busier in September when kids go back to school, Thanksgiving and closer to Christmas,” said Marilyn Toyer, secretary of the Food Bank board.
In 2012, there were 218 requests from 40 families for the Harriston Food Bank. Roughly 25 of those are single individuals, and the rest are families with children.
During the weeks close to Christmas, the food bank tries to make special Christmas hampers for families filled with items that aren’t normally donated, such as turkey and ham, with all the special trimmings, and even gifts for the children.
“In our town we try to get people to register for the Christmas hamper so we can make each hamper appropriate for each family,” May said.
Various food banks throughout Wellington County offer similar Christmas hamper programs, and some also organize “Adopt-a-Family” programs, which offer the opportunity to purchase gifts for a specific family in the area.
“For those in our community who are struggling to make ends meet, what should be a joyful time of year becomes one filled with fear and anxiety, especially with the knowledge that you can’t provide a Christmas for your loved ones,” Westcott said in a press release.
“This program helps to make the holidays special so that everyone in our community can experience the joy and cheer of the season.”
Visit foodbankscanada.ca for more information.
