BY SIMONE J. SMITH
You get to the cash register, and you have four or five items in your basket. You scan them and to your surprise, the total comes to $35.00. “How is this possible,” you say to yourself. There are only five items.
Frustrated, you place the items into a bag (that you had to pay 5 cents for), and you make your way to the bus stop. You have one token left, and the rest of your change you need to finish your laundry.
On your ride home, you stare out the window trying your best not to worry. You don’t get paid until next Friday, and you just spent the money you have allotted for groceries. With bills coming out of your account, you have no idea how you are going to feed your family. It was hard before the pandemic, but now things are even worse…
“You’ve got more people coming through the doors because they aren’t able to put food on the table for their families, you’ve got fewer people in the community who are in a position to give — they might not need a food bank but their budgets are stretched,” Food Banks Canada CEO Kirstin Beardsley
Reports are now showing that the number of first-time food bank users has risen significantly in recent months. Pandemic driven, historically high inflation rates have increased the cost of goods and services across Canada.
According to Statistics Canada, the cost of basic accommodations jumped by nearly 50% across Canada when compared to last year. There are some staple foods that have been impacted, ones that I am sure you have noticed when shopping at the grocery store. Onions jumped by 25% in June, prices of carrots also spiked by 23% while canned beans went up by 20%.
Meats like chicken breast and ground beef spiked by 20% and 10% respectively. 1kg of chicken breast costs $15.04 on average while 1kg of ground beef goes for $10.32.
What I have to report next is devastating but true; in June, Food Banks Canada reported approximately seven million Canadians went hungry at least once between March 2020 and March 2022. Unfortunately, as inflation continues to rise, the situation will likely become direr.
In January 2021 the Angus Reid Institute also calculated the “Economic Stress Index (ESI),” which combines concern over debt, housing costs, household food costs, a participant’s financial situation compared to the past year and expected financial situation next year. It then divides respondents into four categories: thriving, comfortable, uncomfortable and struggling.
Using the ESI, the Angus Reid Institute found that a whopping 98% of those struggling find it difficult to feed their families.
“For those who are Thriving, food costs are manageable, or an afterthought,” the poll states. “For those who are Uncomfortable or Struggling, putting food on the table can be a substantial challenge.”
In March 2020, I sent out a community release asking organizations in the African-Caribbean community to start banding together and organizing food drives to prepare for what was to come. I must have reached out to at least 25 organizations, and out of those 25 organizations, only one reached back out to me.
Emmanuel Life Management Centre has taken up the charge and since April 2020 have successfully fed 1,000 families across Toronto. Based in Scarborough ELMC is open on Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and is generously supported by Second Harvest and The Daily Bread. There are other African-run food banks scattered across the GTA, and I urge those who are having a hard time to go and get help.
For those who are in the Thriving category, this is the time to donate food items, money, clothing, or anything you can. This is a time for community. This is the time to love thy neighbour as you love yourself.
