Barrie area food bank reliance surges as new Ontario report reveals usage increase
Food banks in Barrie and the surrounding area report increasing usage numbers, as a new report indicates Ontario's food bank numbers are rising.
The new provincial report from Feed Ontario revealed over 587,000 adults and children accessed a food bank between April 1, 2021, and March 31, 2022, representing a 15 per cent increase.
The Barrie Food Bank's executive director said those statistics align with their own.
"More working families and seniors are coming to the food bank," said Sharon Palmer. "So people who are working minimum wage jobs, precarious work, gig economy, if there's any kind of interruption to their wages, then they don't have the safety net."
The report noted nearly 46 per cent of food bank users pointed to the surging cost of food as their reason for utilizing the service, while over 13 per cent cited expensive housing, and nearly 10 per cent said low wages or not enough working hours were factors.
"What I found really interesting was just the analysis of how the social policies have impacted foodbank usage over the years," added Palmer. "People on ODSP, Ontario Works, minimum wage earners, it's alarming."
At the Innisfil Food Bank, numbers have gone up by 13 per cent over the last two months.
"We're definitely seeing a lot more newer first-time visitors," said Donna VanBodegom, food bank coordinator. "Twenty-six new families came alone in the last month, which is not typical and was actually a bit shocking."
At the Barrie Native Friendship Centre, Tracey Fox is trying to manage the dramatic increase in its food bank usage. As the Hunger to Hope coordinator, she said demand has increased at an unsustainable rate.
"Our direct service numbers have gone up 70 per cent," Fox said. "If I don't get any donations in, I would say in the next couple weeks, my shelves would be pretty much depleted."
Staff at area food banks added that hygiene products and winter clothing are also desperately needed in addition to food donations.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Half of Canadians have negative opinion of latest Liberal budget: poll
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
Photographer alleges he was forced to watch Megan Thee Stallion have sex and was unfairly fired
A photographer who worked for Megan Thee Stallion said in a lawsuit filed Tuesday that he was forced to watch her have sex, was unfairly fired soon after and was abused as her employee.
An Ontario senior thought he called Geek Squad for help with his printer. Instead, he got scammed out of $25,000
An Ontario senior’s attempt to get technical help online led him into a spoofing scam where he lost $25,000. Now, he’s sharing his story to warn others.
Her fiance has been in prison for 49 years. She's trying to free him before it’s too late
She was lying in bed on a Thursday morning, thinking about the man she loved, hoping to win his freedom before time ran out.