Local food bank sees surge in working people asking for help
Posted April 25, 2019 10:11 pm.
Last Updated April 25, 2019 10:49 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – With the economy and unemployment in B.C. in healthy states, you wouldn’t think demand at food bank demand would be growing.
But the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society is seeing a worrying trend.
Cynthia Boulter is the society’s chief development officer and says they’ve seen a 25 per cent increase in people visiting food banks since late 2017.
“We were around 6,000 people a week at our 13 locations where people can receive food once a week. That has climbed to at least 8,000 a week,” she says.
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“And if we keep on that path, we are going to hit 9,000 people a week by the peak summer months. Chances are we are going to get there. Those are big numbers.”
She notes visits to food banks generally go up in the summer because schools that deliver meal programs are out. But, she noticed the peak demand went beyond August last year.
“Last summer’s increase didn’t stop; it has continued to climb,” she says.
Boulter points out the surge comes from different groups of people seeking help: for one, she says the number of people with jobs visiting the food bank is up by 86 per cent.
Vancouver food banks are seeing a worrying trend with the number of working people needing them up 86% in the last year. There's a 25% overall increase overall since late 2017, with the number of senior and immigrants also spiking. My story every 30 minutes tonight on @NEWS1130
— Toby Kerr (@Toby_Kerr) April 26, 2019
The number of immigrants going to the food bank in Metro Vancouver has also gone up by about 40 per cent according to Boulter, while they continue to see an increase for people on pensions.
She believes the high cost of housing could be a factor.
“Housing is usually is at the top of the list as far as where people spend their money, especially for those on disability, a pension or for some working people,” she says.
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Incidentally, Catelli Pasta will be donating a serving of pasta to local food banks or every box of Catelli pasta purchased between April 15 and May 31, 2019.
– With files from Toby Kerr
