The number of people using Moose Jaw’s food bank has grown so much since last year that the organization’s supplies — including its kids’ summer food packs — are diminishing faster than expected.
The Moose Jaw and District Food Bank received more than 27,900 kilograms (62,000 pounds) of donations between last October and this past May from the Better Together Food Drive, Superstore’s Holiday Food Drive, CP Holiday Train, Co-op’s Good-Buy to Hunger Campaign, Dance Images by BJ and The Next Gen Car Club.
Those contributions filled the organization’s shelves for months but have slowly dwindled as the food security agency distributed those supplies. Staff have spent money to purchase the necessary perishable and non-perishable items to continue feeding people.
“We probably will be purchasing more, but this time of year is when our supplies start to deplete,” said operations manager Terri Smith. “But our numbers have stayed consistent.”
The food bank handed out 533 hampers in January, 559 in February and 709 in March, but that number dropped to 560 in April because people received federal GST and carbon tax rebates, she pointed out.
Smith had anticipated that decrease would continue, but it didn’t and numbers stayed high even though the federal government recently sent out one-time grocery rebate cheques.
The agency distributed 652 hampers in May and 627 in June, while as of July 19, it had handed out 250 hampers.
“But this is how you can tell that people are really struggling (is) when they’re getting that extra money coming in and it’s still not enough to buy groceries and help pay bills,” said Smith.
Spending money to purchase supplies is not easy on operations, so the food bank will gladly accept monetary donations, she continued. Meanwhile, if food is on sale, residents should consider buying extra for the organization.
The main staples required include Kraft Dinner, pork and beans, pasta sauce, rice and canned meats, and fresh fruits and vegetables.
In general, the food bank’s client numbers have increased “dramatically” since January because of higher grocery costs, while there will likely be “a big difference” between last year’s and this year’s totals, Smith said, before presenting data stretching back to 1985.
A household could include two people or 12 people, with multiple families under one roof. A couple will receive one hamper box, a family of four will receive a large and small box, while a 16-member household will receive four large boxes.
In 1985, the food bank supported 1,036 households. By 2015, that number had jumped to 3,847, then to 3,743 two years ago and 5,009 last year.
Meanwhile, the organization distributed 8,354 total hamper boxes last year, while Smith believes that number will double this year. Furthermore, the food bank helped roughly 8,707 people two years ago, while that number grew to roughly 13,200 last year.
The data also shows that the food bank is helping roughly 1,800 clients a month, compared to 900 people a month a few years ago.
“Families are struggling … . However many children you have, it costs money. They need healthy snacks (and) they need healthy food,” Smith said. “A lot of families are bypassing the healthy to get something that will last longer and fill their bellies, which is unfortunate.”
Food Banks Canada sponsors a program — in which Moose Jaw participates — called After the Bell, where children pick up bags of healthy foods and treats from their community food bank during the summer. The national organization also provides money so agencies can add fresh items to the bags.
Normally the bags last all eight weeks of summer, but because the number of children accessing the program in Moose Jaw has increased since last year, the organization will be lucky to make six weeks, Smith said.
“We’ve been doing the After the Bell program for quite a few years and it’s really scary to see the numbers jumping so high … ,” she continued, noting the agency had enough bags last year to serve children into September, which won’t happen this year.
The food bank has partnerships with many community organizations and is thankful for their support, Smith added. She encouraged residents to donate whatever they could, including garden produce, since “nothing is too small” for the organization to use.
To donate food or money, call 306-692-2911, email endhunger@mjfoodbank.org, or visit mjfoodbank.org.
