Stephen Sirois, executive director of Food Depot Alimentaire, said the Depot’s operating budget has skyrocketed due to a perfect storm of factors.
“It is a triple whammy. The numbers are up, there are fewer donations and food is more expensive so we have to buy a lot more food just to maintain the same numbers,” he said in an interview on Monday.
The Depot is a central resource that provides food to food banks and other community kitchens across the province.
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The provincial government announced Monday that it had provided $1 million to the depot in December 2022, and will provide another $1 million before the end of March so it can continue to provide the same level of service.
Health Minister Bruce Fitch said, “These funds will be used to purchase healthy foods such as vegetables, fruits, eggs, proteins, dairy products and of course will be distributed equally to food banks and soup kitchens across the province.” Will go.” announcement.
Laurie Stewart, one of the Depot’s board of directors, has been involved with food banks in the province in various capacities for more than two decades.
“We are in the worst position in the last two years since I joined,” he said on Monday.
He explained that supply chain issues meant that grocery stores had little to spare stock.
“Not only have prices gone up, food is not coming. Food is not coming to the wholesalers, is not coming to the shops. So it’s harder to get, more expensive,” he said.
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Sirois is concerned about the impact a potential recession could have on food bank customers.
“I’m always worried but this $2 million gives us, it gives us a cushion, it gives us some confidence to say, ‘Okay, if the numbers keep going up this year, we can meet them,'” he said. ” They said.
“If there is a prolonged downturn, that is another question, but we are confident that this will help us meet demand.”
Stewart said food banks will need to prepare for a possible downturn.
He said, “People, no matter what their reason, we should be able to accept them and give them food so they can eat.”
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