One Ottawa The community organization says it is struggling to meet demand for its food program, and will have to cut its services if it cannot secure more funding.
Together COVID-19 With supports drying up and food prices skyrocketing, the Caldwell Family Center is just one group calling for more support from governments.
“Before Covid, we were having 85 meals a day. Now, we are doing 500 to 600 meals a day. There is a big difference. We need more help keeping all food security in mind,” said Marilyn Matheson, executive director of the organization.
During the pandemic, the Center was able to receive emergency funding from a variety of sources, including the Government of Ontario.
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But its support from a provincial COVID-19 relief fund ended in December. And many other organizations are hoping the money will stop flowing in next month.
Matheson said in an interview that many people would be in jeopardy if the organization could not secure more funding.
Municipal government is another major source of funds. But although its support has remained stable, Matheson said the dollar is not rising yet.
“We are still trying to get funds from the city. We are in talks, but if we don’t get an inflow of funds soon, we may have to consider shutting down other programmes,” he said.
The City of Ottawa says the amount going toward community services has remained consistent, and its 2023 draft budget projects spending a similar amount in the coming fiscal year.
Others working in the field fear it is not enough.
Rachel Wilson, CEO of the Ottawa Food Bank, says there has been a 27 per cent increase in the number of people seeking support from food banks.
The food bank provides resources to the Caldwell Family Center and other agencies in Ottawa, and Wilson said the additional funding will be critical to their ability to meet at this time.
“Without that funding, they’re going to have to make cuts,” she said.
“They want to do more with less, and that’s true across the network in Ottawa.”
Wilson said that since a new city council has been formed since the last municipal elections, he hopes there will be more conversation about promoting local charities – though he said that hasn’t really happened yet. Used to be.
She said that food banks are no longer just about food. They provide resources to other organizations and provide referrals to other services.
“We are an important part of the response to reducing people’s poverty, but we are not treated as such,” she said.
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