People are feeling the effects of higher rents, gasoline and food and it’s pushing them to the local food bank.
In the last few months, Joe Van Essen coordinator at the South Delta Food Bank, has seen more people picking up food hampers every Wednesday from the food bank’s location at Lighthouse Church.
“I would definitely say the last year, we’ve seen an increase,” he said Friday.
According to Food Banks Canada, the number of visits to food banks across Canada has jumped by 35 per cent when March 2022 (1.5 million visits) are compared to March 2019.
When March 2021 is compared to March 2022, it’s a 15-per-cent increase.
Van Essen estimates that in South Delta, there has been a 20-per-cent increase in demand in the last year.
“Food and rent, it’s obvious. People who don’t make that much money, just can’t make ends meet so they end up going to the food bank, picking up a few bags of food to help out,” Van Essen said.
He said greater demand is across the board but notes he sees Ukrainian women, who’ve fled the Russian invasion of their country, and Mexicans as well.
Four years ago at the South Delta Food Bank, before the pandemic, the food bank fed between 75 and 80 families a week.
That dropped during COVID19 restrictions, but has now climbed to more than100 families a week, he said.
“But it’s only the last two months that it’s really gone up.”
The food bank always welcomes donations but cash is king. Asking for donations of particular items can lead to the food bank being overwhelmed. Instead, cash donations allows the food bank to buy food that is needed and at discounted prices.
“I’d rather get swamped in money, then I can buy what I want. And you can also buy the nutritious stuff like fresh vegetables and meat, and all that good stuff. All the better stuff.”
Food Banks Canada says the percentage of working people needing food has jumped to 14 per cent, from 12.5 per cent in 2021.
And the share of seniors accessing food banks has climbed from 8.9 per cent, from 6.8 per cent before the pandemic.
As well, almost half of food bank recipients are on income assistance. But those benefits “have rapidly eroded,” compared to general inflation. Single-person households, account for 45 per cent of food bank clients, says Food Banks Canada.
“Our community has always been good supporting us,” Van Essen said.
