Canada’s Food Banks in Crisis
Vocab level: B2
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It's been a tough year for Edmonton's food bank as it reels from sky-high demand.
Well, this is not sustainable over time.
Roughly 45,000 people now depend on its food hampers.
About 10,000 more than this time two years ago.
The need is creating so much strain.
Starting as early as February, the food bank will start limiting how often people can use its services.
It's a rough situation for us because, of course...
we don't want people going hungry in our community.
At the same time, we have to be able to serve as many people as we can.
Food banks across Canada are buckling.
The Hunger Count report says 56% of them are either giving out fewer items or reducing the number of visits.
Up from 20% three years ago.
Some programs aren't at that point yet,
but pressure is building at smaller organizations like Calgary's Muslim Food Bank.
Its client list grew from 30 families in 2022 to 300 now.
Another 200 are on the waitlist.
The need at the veterans association has exploded too.
Three years ago, it was making 55 hampers a month.
Now, it's closer to 300.
"It's almost scary just trying to keep up with it."
"You have to worry about a society where we have that many people in that kind of trouble."
People like Eric Monahan, who retired from the Navy in 2019.
"The prices are consistently going higher."
About two years ago, he started using the food bank at the veterans association to keep his 11 person household afloat.
"It's become our lifeline."
With demand so high, there's hope goodwill will persist after the holidays.
Food banks typically see a donation slump in the new year.
But many say that's something Canadians need and can't afford.
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