Busby Centre braces for higher demand with Salvation Army's meal program ending
The Salvation Army's Barrie Bayside Mission is ending its community meal program as of April 1. Simcoe County will redistribute the program's $140,000 funding to other local food security agencies.
"This is going to be a really big impact for our community," said Sara Peddle, executive director of the Busby Centre.
Staff with the Salvation Army said it saw a spark in demand for the decade-long service during the pandemic but had seen those numbers begin to decline and, in recent months, felt it was the right time to re-evaluate how to best serve the community.
"How best we can as a community, as a partner agency, work with other agency partners and the county to distribute that responsibility and make sure people had access to food and meals wherever they found themselves in the community," said Glenn van Gulik of the Salvation Army.
The services that received some of that redistributed money that provided free daily lunches and dinners to those in need say it could be more impactful after being divided.
"Unfortunately, it's really covering the inflation on food costs for our programs anyway and the increased demand, so we will still need support from the community," said Peddle.
Daily food for Salvation Army residents and other meal programs will stay the same.
But the Busby Centre is bracing for even higher demand from vulnerable, hungry people.
"We're anticipating that we will see an increase to our outreach van and to our centre looking for food," said Peddle.
One client, who has been reliant on the service, echoed Peddle's sentiment.
"They have to go to the Busby van. So, the Busby is going to be overrun with people because this way, it splits them up, but now, they have to go to one source. It's not going to be easy," said the man who wished to remain anonymous after picking up his food at the Salvation Army in the final days of the program.
While clients say the sudden change saddens them, those at the Busby Centre say they are grateful for the Salvation Army's decade-long efforts, but this leaves a big gap to fill.
"I'd be hard-pressed to think this problem is going away anytime soon. I think it's going to perpetuate additional problems because if people are having to purchase food, if community programs are not available, then they may not be able to pay their rent," explained Peddle.
Stakeholders like Peddle say they will now be advocating different levels of government for additional funding.
"Because this is a crisis. We're already in a housing crisis, and now we're looking at a food security crisis within our communities if we don't have funding to make sure that programs like the Salvation Army are funded," added Peddle.
The Busby Centre, the Barrie Food Bank, and other local faith and community agencies met this week to discuss this decision's short- and long-term impacts.
In the meantime, the Busby Centre is preparing increasing bagged lunches and emergency grocery bags for this weekend when the change begins.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
AstraZeneca says it will withdraw COVID-19 vaccine globally as demand dips
AstraZeneca said on Tuesday it had initiated the worldwide withdrawal of its COVID-19 vaccine due to a 'surplus of available updated vaccines' since the pandemic.
'Summer of discontent': Federal unions vow to fight new 3-day a week office mandate
Federal unions are launching legal challenges and encouraging public sector workers to file "tens of thousands" of grievances over the new mandate requiring federal workers to return to the office at least three days a week in the fall.
Toronto police seek suspect vehicle after security guard shot outside Drake's mansion
Toronto police are seeking help from the public as they continue to investigate a shooting that seriously injured a security guard outside rapper Drake's mansion.
'Ozempic babies': Reports of surprise pregnancies raise new questions about weight loss drugs
Numerous women have shared stories of 'Ozempic babies' on social media. But the joy some experience in discovering pregnancies may come with anxiety about the unknowns.
OPINION What King Charles' schedule being too 'full' to accommodate son suggests
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has made headlines with his recent arrival in the U.K., this time to celebrate all things Invictus. But upon the prince landing in the U.K., we have already had confirmation that King Charles III won't have time to see his youngest son during his brief visit.
Seafood, eat food: Calgary Stampede releases Midway menu
The Calgary Stampede has released its menu of sweet, salty and spicy treats available on the Midway for the Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth.
Boy Scouts of America is rebranding. Here's why they've changed their name
After more than a century, Boy Scouts of America is rebranding as Scouting America, another major shakeup for an organization that once proudly resisted change.
These snakes not only fake their own deaths, they use gory special effects to do it
Awards season may be over for human actors this year, but there’s no rest for some of nature’s most audacious thespians.