Local food bank use still increasing year by year

Roger Varley, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Higher costs for almost everything are causing more and more people to turn to the Uxbridge Loaves And Fishes food bank for assistance.

"People can't afford rent, transportation, food and other necessities," said Donald Mertens, who has been director of the food bank for the past four years. The food bank, which operates out of St. Andrew’s-Chalmers church, has been in existence for about 30 years.

Mertens said demand at the food bank has increased by about 25 per cent every year for the last three years, noting "we've had some record days."

He said most of the Loaves and Fishes clients are on some form of social assistance, and added that some have jobs but are finding it difficult to make ends meet. He said some clients might come in just once a year, while others seek support every month.

Clients of the food bank must be Uxbridge residents and must provide some personal details to the food bank; all information is kept confidential. Some data is shared with Food Banks of Canada, to which Loaves and Fishes belongs, but that data is used to improve food bank service and also remains confidential.

A special event put on for the community by the Loaves and Fishes Food Bank. Photo credit - Loaves and Fishes

New clients are taken to a quiet area where they are guided through the process.

"We want to be welcoming and caring," Mertens said.

Clients are allowed to visit the food bank once a month, and Mertens said the target is to provide each family with food for five to seven days. There is an emergency service for people in desperate circumstances.

Mertens said the food bank relies on the honesty of clients when taking their details.

"We don't want to be judgmental," he said. "This is help, not entitlement."

Loaves and Fishes does not receive any government support and relies entirely on donations from the community.

"Our community is extremely generous," Merten said, noting a lot of help and support comes from local organizations.

Nevertheless, the food bank continues to need food donations and Mertens said they need to be spread throughout the year and not just at times like Thanksgiving or Christmas.

"Hunger doesn't take a holiday in the summer," he said.

He noted that not only is demand increasing, but so are costs. However, he added that generous donations made during the COVID-19 pandemic put the food bank on good financial ground, saying "it allows Loaves and Fishes to have backup plans for the next tornado." He made it clear that the food bank has a responsibility to handle funds sent to it carefully.

As well as handing out food, the food bank also provides some information about other social services available in the community, but Mertens cautioned: "We're not experts."

Mertens said the food bank has about 50 volunteers and has a waiting list of people who want to help. He said the number of volunteers indicates the level of trust the community has in Loaves and Fishes.

Mertens had one final word.

"If you know someone in a jam, tell them about Loaves and Fishes. We're sympathetic."