Food bank demand climbs in December
With the rising cost of living, Niagara agencies running food banks expect demand to increase — especially during the winter holidays.
Open Arms Mission and the Hope Centre in Welland, as well as Port Cares in Port Colborne, offer community services to ensure no one is left hungry or alone. They each provide the communities they serve with access to food banks, warm meals and holiday celebrations.
Melissa Kirkpatrick, executive director of Open Arms Mission, said this December has been far busier than last December. In 2016 the organization served about 500 people for the entire month, but by Dec. 22 of this year Kirkpatrick said the mission had already helped about 600 people.
Mark Carl, executive director of the Hope Centre, said it has also seen an increase in usage. Carl said the increase is between three and five per cent for the whole year.
During December, Carl said, the number of people needing to use its food bank is up seven per cent.
Kirkpatrick said often people need to use the food bank services in December because they are burdened with the extra costs of Christmas. People are feeling the need to buy gifts for loved ones, or provide a Christmas meal at home, which can cost a lot.
Both Kirkpatrick and Carl agreed that the rising cost of housing is negatively affecting people.
Kirkpatrick said many people use the food bank services at the end of the month when money has been stretched thin.
“There have been new clients every year. It shocks me how many new people there are, every day there are new people … I don’t know where they are coming from,” she said.
Both Kirkpatrick and Carl said many of their clients are working one or two jobs, but still can’t afford to live.
Carl said the costs of housing, transportation and hydro are too high for many people.
When it comes to Port Colborne, Christine Clark Lafleur, executive director of Port Cares, said agency usage has been fairly consistent in recent years.
She said during winter months the organization serves between 700 and 800 people. She said one- third of those people are children.
Clark Lafleur said housing costs also affect the residents of Port Colborne.
During summer months she said Port Cares usage declines by 10 to 15 per cent, likely because of a decreased reliance on hydro and gas.
Staff at the three organizations said they wouldn’t be able to do the work they do without the help of the community.