Food banks struggle to support growing numbers of working families, seniors and children

Staff at The Sharing Place Food Bank in Orillia are rushing to keep up with the growing number of people who rely on its services, with the demand for food assistance reaching unprecedented levels.

A long-time food bank client, Sasha Bisio, says the service is crucial to her survival.

"It is a lifeline. It helps me get through the day-to-day," Bisio said.

Like many food banks across Ontario, The Sharing Place has seen a significant surge in the number of people seeking help.

"Our demand for our services has never been so high. We are seeing about 2,500 to 2,600 individuals per month coming through our facility - that's about a 20 per cent to 30 per cent increase year over year," explained The Sharing Place executive director Chris Peacock.

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The growing demand has put considerable strain on the food bank's resources and the volunteers who work tirelessly to sort and distribute food to those in need, which now includes people Peacock says have never seen poverty before.

"A lot of dual income individuals, a lot of seniors," he added. "We have gone from 18 per cent food insecurity to 31 per cent food insecurity in one and a half years."

The Barrie Food Bank reportedly supports about 7,000 individuals every month, nearly 40 per cent of whom are children. That's double the number of people at the same time last year and triple the number pre-pandemic.

"Unless there are structural changes - structural policy changes - we are bracing ourselves for a very busy fall," said the food bank's executive director, Karen Shuh.

Shuh noted the annual Thanksgiving Food Drive is struggling to meet this year's goals, with less than a week to go.

"We had a Thanksgiving goal of $250,000, and so far, we are short $70,000," she said. "We also have a campaign goal of 150,000 pounds of food and were about 16,000 pounds short."

Shuh said many local families feel pressure to be able to provide a Thanksgiving meal amid rising costs.

"For those who are facing food insecurity, it's a very isolating time of year. And so we find we families that are coming in, and they are experiencing added stress for putting on a festive meal or showing embarrassment that they can't," said Shuh.

To support the Thanksgiving Food Drive, donate online, or drop off a cheque or cash at 42 Anne Street South in Barrie during operating hours.

The food bank also accepts donations of non-perishable food items at designated bins at local grocery stores or directly at the food bank.