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A new report shows more seniors are relying on food banks than ever before. Bob Bellacicco has details.

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What more could be done to reduce poverty in Canada? | OUTBURST

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The federal government has kicked in $503,781 in funding for the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association, at a time when they say people need it most.

Across Canada, food banks have seen an uptick in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the government to announce a $100 million Emergency Fund for Food Security back in April.

On Thursday, Windsor-Tecumseh MP Irek Kusmierczyk announced that local contribution would mean $428,725 in direct funding, as well as $75,056 worth of purchased food.

"I know the COVID-19 crisis has presented many challenges for food banks and local food organizations who are on the front lines for making sure people get essential food in their time of need," said Kusmierczyk during a press conference.

"We know that demand during the COVID crisis is even greater."

Kusmierczyk said almost one in seven Canadians said they live in a household where there is food insecurity. He said, in Windsor-Essex, more than 50,000 children and adults have received food assistance.

June Muir, long-time executive director of the Unemployed Help Centre, said she could hardly believe the amount of funding being given locally.

"We have put a plan in place on how these funds will be spent monthly which will allow us to purchase items through Feed Ontario's bulk food purchasing program. Items will be purchased which have not be donated and this should last throughout the year," said Muir.

The funding comes as the Unemployed Help Centre of Windsor opens a new food drive-thru service at Adie Knox Herman Recreation Complex.

"We know that the childhood poverty rate in Windsor's west end is one of the highest in the country but we also know the need is great across the region," said Kusmierczyk.

"The opening of this new food hub at Adie Knox will ensure our most vulnerable neighbours have a safe reliable place to access fresh food throughout the winter."

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Windsor-Essex food banks receive $500k government boost, open west end drive-thru | CBC News

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The federal government has kicked in $503,781 in funding for the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association, at a time when they say people need it most. Across Canada, food banks have seen an uptick in usage during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting the government to announce a $100 million Emergency Fund for Food Security back in April.

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Amid a sharp rise in food bank use locally and across Canada, those relying on the services say they need food banks to survive, and those who run food banks are pleading for more support.

At the Adie Knox food bank on Thursday, everything was gone in only 45 minutes. Most of the people standing in line were international students studying in Windsor. Other residents were waiting in a drive-thru lineup.

One student said food banks are essential for people like him.

"This is the best thing for students because we struggle for money in the beginning," said Dipan Sharma.

"It's life-saving."

An annual report released Thursday by Food Banks Canada said there were nearly 1.5 million visits to food banks across the country in March, marking a 15 per cent increase in the number of visits in the same month last year and 35 per cent higher than visits in March 2019.

The increase is not a surprise to June Muir, the CEO of the UHC Hub of Opportunities.

"I wasn't shocked because of the increase that we're seeing right here in Windsor-Essex," Muir said. "But it immediately told me that I need to do something. I have to help people in need and it made me quite sad to think that that many people needed to utilize the food bank."

According to Muir, more than 46,000 people were served by Windsor-Essex food banks from January to September of 2019. In the same months this year, that number climbed to more than 74,000.

It is an increase of about 61 per cent.

At the Adie Knox food bank, Sharma said the length of the line was not as long as other days, calling it "medium" in length.

Other Windsor residents said inflation is the main cause of the increase in food bank use, both locally and nationally.

"Everything is very expensive," said student Darshan Dave. "We have to expand our budgets."

Residents on fixed incomes, like Julie Cloutier, are also finding it difficult to keep money in their wallets.

"Everything just goes up so high and then when you go shopping, all the people that have the money get all the good things," she said. "People like us, we get nothing because of the fact that people that have money get what we need."

"You have to go to a food bank to survive because if you don't, you ain't gonna survive on squat."

Another Windsor student agrees that inflation is among the big drivers in food insecurity in the region, but he also has another theory as to why food bank dependence is rising.

"You don't have that many job opportunities as well," said Ahmed Hassan. "As students, when we came here as soon as we did, we had our own finances planned out, but inflation and high prices are shaking us so much right now. So things like this do actually help you out."

Muir says the UHC Hub of Opportunities is issuing a call to Windsor-Essex residents for the first time ever. They are requesting every Windsor-Essex resident to donate five dollars to help those who rely on food banks.

"If everyone did that, we would be able to buy and purchase foods that are needed and we'd be able to help everyone," she said. "You can [also] donate by dropping off food at one of the locations."

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Number of Windsor residents relying on 'life-saving' food bank service is growing | CBC News

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Windsor residents, even newer ones, are using food banks to put food on their tables. Most of the people in line at the Adie Knox food bank Thursday were international students. Food bank usage in Windsor-Essex has risen over the last three years.

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Illustrations by Kristina Neuman

With rising unaffordability and income inequality in Toronto and the GTA, food banks are needed more than ever

"What is food insecurity? It's many things. It's parents who skip a meal once a week so their kids can eat," says Rasheeda Qureshi, executive director of Seva Food Bank in Mississauga. It's also people who have to choose between buying groceries or paying their rent on time. It's anyone who doesn't know how they'll get their next meal-and that number is growing.

According to the 2019 Who's Hungry Report by the Daily Bread Food Bank, there were more than 1 million visits to food banks in the Toronto region between April 2018 and March 2019, up four per cent from the year prior. So if you're asking if food banks are really necessary, the answer is yes-more than ever.

Here's what you should know about food banks in Canada, including how to donate what's needed most, as well as how to access support when you need it.

A food bank is a nonprofit organization that collects safe, nutritious and culturally appropriate food, and redistributes it to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity.

Some food banks act exclusively as distribution centres for their member agencies. Daily Bread, for instance, supplies nearly 200 food programs across Toronto. Other food banks, including Seva, are on the frontline, giving directly to people in need.

Why are food banks needed? Access to food is a human right, but as long as poverty exists, food insecurity will, too. As Qureshi explains, if you're living below the poverty line, at some point you'll likely be unable to access sufficient, healthy food due to financial constraints. Many Seva clients are people on fixed incomes, like seniors. Many others work, trying to make ends meet on $14 an hour (Ontario's minimum wage)-a daunting challenge in the Toronto area, where affordable housing is increasingly scarce.

Food banks get provisions from a lot of different places. In some cases, they may purchase some of what they need, in addition to securing food donations through individuals, farms and, significantly, corporate partners.

The charitable organization Food Banks Canada, for example, supports its network of more than 640 food banks and 3,000 food agencies by getting supplies from national retailers, like Loblaws and Walmart. Through this program, local food banks receive about 13 million pounds worth of fresh, frozen and non-perishable foods a year. There's an eco-upside, too: the system reduces food waste for grocery companies.

If you're wondering how to get food from food banks in Toronto and the GTA, the first step is to figure out which one serves the catchment area you live in. Here's one easy way: use Feed Ontario's Find a Food Bank online tool and enter your postal code or address. Formerly the Ontario Association of Food Banks, Feed Ontario covers a network of 130 member food banks. Also, if you visit a food bank that doesn't serve your catchment area, you'll typically be given a referral to one that does.

If you've never used a food bank before, you likely have a lot of questions. Here are answers to some common ones:

Are food banks free? Yes, as a resource for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of poverty, access to food banks is free.

Who can go to food banks? Can anyone use food banks? They're designed for people who need help putting food on the table, but the criteria for who's eligible isn't strict. At The Stop in Toronto, a United Way-funded agency that was one of Canada's first food banks when it opened in the 1980s, community services coordinator Mike Taurozzi recognizes first-timers may feel anxiety and he strives to put them at ease: "I'm not going to send anybody away without food." The same goes for Seva: "We will serve you if you want to be served and feel like you need the service," says Qureshi. "For most, it is a terribly difficult decision to use a food bank. People have told us they've sat outside in the car for hours, mustering up the courage to come in."

What do I need to get food from the food bank? Food bank requirements on your first visit typically involve filling out an intake form. Expect to provide ID and proof of address. You will be asked for personal information, which will be kept confidential, such as your income and expenses as well as how many people are in your household. If you're uncomfortable sharing your income, you won't be forced to, says Qureshi. "There's no requirement one way or another," she explains.

What do food banks give you? What you get at food banks in Canada, and how often you can use a food bank, will vary by the specific organization. The Daily Bread Food Bank's member agencies, for example, provide two to three days' worth of food, based on the size of the family. Seva gives seven to 10 days' worth of provisions, once per month, to their clients.

What's accepted varies by organization, so if you're interested in making food bank donations, call or check the website of the place you'd like to support.

Foods with high nutritional value are particularly welcome. Also, consider donating foods reflective of Toronto's multicultural makeup (say, bitter gourd or lotus root, and not exclusively tinned peas). "Canada is so extraordinarily diverse, so we are sensitive to needing to provide culturally appropriate food," explains Qureshi.

Grains: oatmeal, high-fibre cereal, brown rice, whole grain pasta

Protein: canned salmon or tuna, peanut butter, canned or dried beans/lentils

Fruits and vegetables: potatoes, onions, carrots, tomatoes

Foods for special diets: gluten-free, lactose-free, kosher, heart-healthy and sugar-free items

Yes-in fact, baby supplies like puréed vegetables, powdered formula and baby cereal are on the most-needed list, too. Diapers and baby wipes are likewise in demand.

Some do; call to check. The Stop, for example, needs the following (must be new and unopened): menstrual products, shampoo, deodorant, toothbrushes and toothpaste, dish soap and laundry detergent. (Due to space limitations, the list of accepted items is subject to change.)

What can you not donate to a food bank? Can you donate chocolate to food banks?

"Often, folks want to do something nice-and at the same time, clean out their cupboard," says Taurozzi. So, if you're eyeing the dusty can of beans that's been in your pantry for five years and wondering, Can I donate expired food to a food bank? ask yourself instead: Would you eat it? "If you don't want it, we don't want it either," says Taurozzi. The same goes for opened and leftover food.

It's also a good idea to contact your local food bank for other specific donation guidelines. While it may seem thoughtful to donate little luxuries like sweet treats, they might not be accepted. For example, The Stop prioritizes nutritional value-so no pop or sugar-laden drinks, potato chips, candy, chocolate bars, ramen or canned pasta, please.

If you're debating whether it's better to donate money or food to a food bank, "cash is always best," says Taurozzi. "It allows organizations to purchase what they need, because the organizations know what they need best." While all contributions are appreciated, if a food bank already has 700 cans of baked beans, they don't need more of the same.

Also, ask about becoming a food bank volunteer if you're keen to do more. At both Daily Bread and Seva, opportunities include family volunteering days, so children and their parents can pitch in together, helping to sort items or stock shelves.

Many food banks do much more than distribute food, too-they're often neighbourhood hubs that work to foster social connection and education. At The Stop, for example, resources include the Healthy Beginnings pre-natal program, peer advocates helping with issues like housing, and three community kitchens.

At Seva's new Malton-based Community Teaching Kitchen, food-bank clients will soon be able to take Fundamentals of Cooking Classes, inspired by an elderly widower who only took easy-to-heat foods because he lacked kitchen know-how. The classes, taught by volunteers, will teach how to prep healthy meals and use unfamiliar ingredients. "We are now building out a curriculum to provide cooking skills, so people can extend their food budget by utilizing foods they would never take otherwise," says Qureshi.

Food banks are an invaluable resource-and there are many ways to support one near you - so look into all the programming offered, and ask how you can make a difference.

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How food banks in Canada work - United Way Greater Toronto

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With rising unaffordability and income inequality in Toronto and the GTA, food banks are needed more than ever "What is food insecurity? It's many things. It's parents who skip a meal once a week so their kids can eat," says Rasheeda Qureshi, executive director of Seva Food Bank in Mississauga.

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Share the questions you generated with your groups about food insecurity and the federal funding: 

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Share the questions you generated with your groups about food insecurity and the federal funding: 

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After the Bell - Windsor, ON | Food Banks Canada

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Local food banks struggling with low supplies