Days after the release of a new report claiming an immense increase in food bank use across Toronto during COVID-19, the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest held an online panel discussing poverty on Nov. 26.
The panel included Policy and Research Analyst Hannah Aldridge, National Coordinator Leila Sarangi, and Senior Researcher at the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives Ricardo Tranjan. The panel aimed to address poverty during COVID throughout the hour-long discussion called Beyond COVID-19: Building a Future Without Poverty.
According to the 2020 version of the annual Who’s Hungry report funded by the Daily Bread Food Bank, by August this year, there was a 51 per cent increase in food bank visits compared to the previous year. In total, there is a 5.4 per cent increase in food bank use in comparison to 2019. The report is based on a survey of food banks across Toronto.
The panel discussed housing, policy changes, and the increasing food insecurity crisis that the Daily Bread Food Bank reported this year.
“I think a lot of people don’t have much awareness about hunger in our communities,” said Talia Bronstein, the Vice President of Research and Advocacy at the Daily Bread Food Bank and co-author of the report who also served as the moderator during the panel. “It’s often very hidden. You might know somebody who is skipping meals or reducing their food intake because they’re just having trouble making ends meet.”
Bronstein said that despite changes having to be made due to COVID, the Daily Bread Food Bank relies on a shopping model to distribute food, where clients are able to choose the food they want. “That’s really important because client choice is really critical to what we do. It allows dignity and it means that people can actually get food that they want to eat,” Bronstein said.
According to Bronstein, the Daily Bread food bank now serves about 25, 000 people per week, up from 15, 000 per week pre-COVID.
“People who were experiencing poverty are now experiencing it at a much deeper level,” said Hannah Aldridge during the panel discussion.
Diana Stapleton, the Chair of the Board at the Weston Area Emergency Support food bank, which is part of this report said that her food bank went from having about 650 visits per month to having 2700 visits per month by June. According to Stapleton, the food bank is seeing the biggest increase in families using the food bank. “Single individuals used to represent about 45 per cent of the people that came to the food bank. They’re down to 20 per cent. The biggest area of increase for us is multi-generational families,” said Stapleton.
Susan Cox, who has been using the Weston Area Emergency Support food bank since COVID started in March, said she notices a big increase in people coming to use the food bank. “The problem is people come here and they’re not in the community,” said Cox. “The people in the community, sometimes we don’t have enough food.”
“Food seems to be the expense that people are willing to deal with. They want to prioritize rent and utilities first. Food is an item that they skimp on in their budget and have to turn to food banks,” Bronstein said during the panel discussion.
“People should understand that we have needs in your own community, as well as right across the country in every community,” said Stapleton. “Even if you can’t donate money, you can donate an item, you can donate time, you can talk to your friends about it.”