Imagine arriving at the middle of the month without enough food to feed your family. This is a reality for more than 500 families in the Battlefords who use the services of the food bank on a monthly basis. That is about 1,700 people (almost half of which are children under the age of 18). This is more than 10 per cent of the population of North Battleford.
“Over the last couple of years, we have seen the number of clients served go steadily upward and there are times we struggle to meet the need,” says Erin Katerynych, food bank manager. Last year the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre distributed just over $600,000 worth of food and non-food products. This includes about $40,000 worth of products donated to other community organizations and schools, including the Lighthouse shelter, Concern for Youth and the Boys and Girls Club, to name a few.
Luckily, the community has always rallied to help the Food Bank meet the need.
“When the food bank opened our doors back in the fall of 2003, we had $20,000 in the bank, a used furniture van for donation pickups and donated space,” says Bill Hall outgoing executive director. “Because of the support of individuals, local businesses, church, community and school groups, the City, PotashCorp and the Government of Canada’s Homelessness Initiative, we have been able to move to permanent facilities and provide the services needed by our neighbours touched by hunger.”
Every Plate Full
The week of May 2 to 8 marks the Every Plate Full Food Banks Canada food and fund drive for local food banks. The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre will be participating with a barbecue on Thursday, May 7 at the CJNB/Q98/the ROCK parking lot.
Battleford Central School will be holding the very first Canstruction event in the Battlefords where students and staff will be constructing sculptures from donated canned food.
In addition, CBI Rehabilitation will be having door-to-door food drives in different neighbourhoods of North Battleford. Donation bags will be distributed to households Tuesday, May 5 and filled bags will be collected Thursday, May 7.
More Than Just Food
In addition to providing emergency food hampers to needy families the Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre offers the following programs:
Food for Kids — kid-friendly food bags are distributed each Friday by schools to local elementary-aged students from food insecure households.
Milk for Kids — milk is given to food bank clients with children.
Coats for Kids — gently used winter clothing is collected and distributed to children in need.
Income tax preparation — free income tax service is offered to low-income persons to enable them to receive benefits from various government programs.
Empty Stocking Fund — Christmas food and toy hampers are provided to needy families for Christmas.
Fine Option Agent — the food bank acts as an agent to place at various non-profit organizations to work off payment for fines or community service.
Popular Myths about the Food Bank
Myth: Anyone can just come and get food, any time they want.
Reality: The Food Bank is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10 a.m. to noon. Clients are allowed to use the food bank services once every two weeks. The food that clients receive is emergency food only designed to last for about two days, at most. There is only one food hamper per household or address. After a person’s third visit, they need to provide financial information to prove need.
Myth: Most food bank clients use food bank services every two weeks.
Reality: Around 25 per cent of food bank clients or households, only use food bank services once per year. About 60 per cent of clients or households use the food bank four times or less per year. Only 1.5 per cent of clients or households use the food bank the maximum 24 times a year.
Myth: All food bank clients are on social assistance.
Reality: While 41 per cent of food bank clients or households report they are on social assistance, the majority of food bank clients or households report income from other sources: they are employed (eight per cent), on Employment Insurance (two per cent), receive disability (28 per cent), collect a pension (11 per cent), receive student loans (five per cent) or have no income (five per cent).
