By Cheryl Jahn

Food bank visits exploding, according to Food Banks Canada

Jul 4, 2024 | 1:27 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – According to Food Banks Canada, two million Canadians visited food banks in March of 2023. That’s an increase of 23 percent compared to the March before and a whopping 78.5 percent spike compared to March of 2019. It’s not surprising in any way to what is the largest food bank in town: The Salvation Army.

“I’m a little disheartened by some of the numbers. But not at all surprised,” says Terra Laflamme, Communities Ministries Supervisor. “The cost of inflation, the cost of food donations are down. We’re having to purchase more items and money doesn’t go as far as it used to.”

It’s the same ugly picture across town at the St. Vincent de Paul food bank.

“In the last three years, 154 food hampers of groceries went out. And then we would do about 30 to 40 fruit and vegetable bags every week,” says Bernie Gould with St. Vincent de Paul. “Now we’re doing on average 260 to 270 hampers each month.”

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In fact, St.Vincent de Paul spends an extraordinary amount of money buying food, to the tune of $12,000 to $14,000 a month. As we move into even more challenging economic times, the message is clear:

“I think we need to look at some of those underlying issues as to why we’re in this position in the first place,” says Laflamme. “Food banks were never intended to be a long-term solution, and yet here we are.”

Both the Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul say single, older men are the highest users of their food banks.