Video by Michael Tse
Multimedia by Megan Camlasaran
By Bianca Thompson
Local food banks have been struggling to meet community needs as they notice a surge in demand for their services and a decline in volunteers, donations and facility space.
More than 40 per cent of food banks have been forced to close, according to city officials. Yet, the demand for emergency food services has increased as 1.8 million Canadians lost their jobs in September, according to Statistics Canada.
Food banks across the city are doing their best to work through the pandemic. Each facing individual struggles but sharing the same goal to provide for their communities.
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The Lighthouse, an outreach centre in Toronto, has workers prepare hampers filled with groceries in advance and leave them outside for pick-up. As winter time approaches, coordinators worry they will not be able to continue this method of distribution.
The pandemic has forced food banks to lose volunteers and donations. As more families require their services, many have had challenges contacting community members for help.
“There needs to be more support. Donations have been decreasing,” said Tabitha Eastman, the food bank coordinator at The Lighthouse.
The city has directed over $2.8 million to community-based agencies supporting food security programs for vulnerable populations, according to city staff.
Government agencies have been helping out more, according to Henry Chiu, the director of development and marketing at North York Harvest.
“For the first time, governments provided support, in the form of cash and food, to food bank operations,” he said.
On April 3rd, the federal government announced an investment of $100 million to assist food banks during the pandemic.
“The work being done by food banks and their volunteers is essential, so there’s no question that they need more support during this crisis,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Food instability will continue to rise as unemployment rates rapidly increase.
Anyone with means to contribute is being asked to donate to local churches, food banks or fire stations.
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Social media links
Teaser 1 (Instagram)
https://www.instagram.com/p/CG9Y2M8hWLw/?igshid=106aaoi10ovku
Teaser 2 (Facebook)
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1495161420671075/permalink/1508868479300369/
Friday’s post 1 (Twitter group 1 poll)
Friday’s post 2 (Bianca Thompson, Facebook food bank poll)
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