Orangeville’s food bank is grappling with an unrelenting surge in demand as the number of people seeking assistance continues to rise. The organization’s executive director has observed that this upward trend shows no signs of abating, with a staggering 40 percent increase in clientele over the past year.
Heather Hayes, the executive director, shared, “Last month, we served 1,213 people, a number we have never seen before, and prior to the pandemic, we were serving 600 people a month.”
Addressing the influx of people in need, the food bank has had to muster a collective effort reminiscent of an army to handle the mounting volume of donated food.
It’s important to note that this surge in demand is not unique to Orangeville; neighboring communities such as Barrie, Orillia, and regions across the country are also grappling with similar trends.
The underlying causes behind the increasing dependence on food banks are multifaceted, with inflation and the lack of affordable housing standing out as primary contributors.
Heather Hayes stressed, “It’s not who you think is using the food banks anymore. It’s your neighbor, your friends, and your family.”
In nearby Shelburne, the situation mirrors that of Orangeville, with approximately 300 families seeking aid from the local food bank each month.
Ardith Dunlop from the Shepherds Cupboard Food Bank expressed, “It feels like the numbers only increase. I can’t remember the last time we saw a shift where we weren’t signing in new clients, so you do get the sense that it is on the increase, and it’s a relatively unprecedented increase. We have never seen numbers like this before.”
Heather Hayes emphasized the urgent need for government intervention and policy changes to address the root causes of the escalating demand for food assistance.
Furthermore, she highlighted an upcoming day of action on November 1, during which several food banks, including Orangeville’s, will actively advocate for crucial policy reforms.
With the holiday season approaching, Heather Hayes anticipates a further surge in numbers and underscores the importance of not only food donations but also the substantial impact of monetary contributions from the public.
