Over one million Ontario residents last year visited a food bank. That indicator of a surging affordability crisis in the province was contained in data released this past Tuesday (Sept. 10) by Feed Ontario.
Digging further into the report, food banks in the province were visited 7.6 million times over the year, an increase of 134 per cent from 2019-20.
It marks an all-time high and the eighth straight year an increase has been recorded.
Feed Ontario unites food banks, industry partners and communities as it strives to end poverty and hunger.
“When we released record-breaking data last year, we thought that was the high-water mark,” advised Feed Ontario CEO Carolyn Stewart.

“But food bank use has only continued to climb as more Ontarians find themselves struggling to make ends meet. When will our governments say enough is enough and take meaningful action against food insecurity and poverty?”

Feed Ontario’s data shows the main drivers of food insecurity in Ontario “are a result of the rapid spike in the cost of living, which many incomes have not kept up with, and a heightened economic vulnerability that is being felt throughout the province.”
Following the release of the data, we sought input from Karen McDade, Manager of Public Relations and Administration at the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank (seen at right in the photo).

She confirmed the situation locally mirrors the Feed Ontario data.
“In 2019 from January to the end of August, we fed 5,900 people. Come January to August 2024, we fed 16,700. So, it’s over the top. It’s just a staggering amount and upsetting.
“Just the other day, one of our busiest ever, we fed 242 people, in a day. Three years ago, we would be feeding that in a week. It’s troubling that so many people are using it (the food bank) here in St. Thomas and Elgin county.”
She referenced a situation at the food bank on Wednesday of this week.
“Yesterday, 42 households came to visit to order and 11 of them were brand new. It doesn’t mean they just moved here, a lot of these are working families of two-income households with a vehicle and it’s do I pay my mortgage or do I pay my rent or feed my children?
“It’s to the point it is over the top. It scares us and it’s upsetting and some days, we all feel like we’re drowning.
“The usage (of the food bank) is just beyond our imagination that this would ever happen. And it is all over Ontario, it isn’t just here in St. Thomas.”
She pointed to another example, the food bank’s summer top-up program.
“Donations are down. Usually in the summer for monetary and food donations, we focus on feeding the families because they are out of school for the summer.

“We have no surplus, ever. It is replenishing what we’ve used already. It’s enough to keep you awake at night.”

“But, we can’t sustain that for next year. It’s a fabulous program but it would cost us about $34,000 to sustain the program that we are so proud of.
“We had it last year and this year what it meant for nine weeks is the mom and dad could come once a week for five breakfasts, five lunches and snacks to feed their families.”
Everyone is feeling the pinch, continued McDade.
“We get a lot of donations from the grocery stores but we’re not getting as many because people are buying it (food items) once it goes for 40 or 50 per cent off. It used to come to us.
“I purchase skids, not cases anymore. We’re purchasing constantly now. Every two weeks we’re ordering skids of food items. We’re very lucky we’re able to borrow a truck.
“We have no surplus, ever. It is replenishing what we’ve used already. It’s enough to keep you awake at night.
“Every two weeks, we go through 365 cartons of eggs and it’s a hundred bags of milk (with three individual bags of milk inside).”
Another factor, adds McDade is household size.

“Food banks cannot keep up with the unprecedented need they’re seeing. Across the province, we are hearing reports of long lines, empty shelves, and a growing concern that some food banks may have to close their doors.”

“It’s larger households now than we’ve ever experienced. It’s nothing for us to feed a family of seven or nine people. They can’t afford to live on their own so they are all moving into one household to save on rent and utilities and food costs.
“It’s the price of groceries. Like milk, just a few months ago it was $5.89 for a bag of three and now it’s $6.09.
“We are in need of food and monetary donations because we are placing orders every two weeks. We’re here to feed the people and we’re just at the staples.
“We’re not purchasing hygiene products, toilet paper, shampoo or dish soap anymore. Luckily, we’ve had some donations of those items.”
Feed Ontario’s Stewart backs up McDade’s observations.
“Food banks cannot keep up with the unprecedented need they’re seeing. Across the province, we are hearing reports of long lines, empty shelves, and a growing concern that some food banks may have to close their doors.”
Feed Ontario reports that with this added pressure, 69 per cent of food banks in their network are concerned about not having enough food to adequately provide support to those in need and 53 per cent worry about having enough funding to adequately meet the demand in their areas.
Food banks primarily rely on the generosity of their communities, and with an increasing number of people struggling, there are fewer able to help food banks stay afloat with donations and support.
Stewart reminded, “Food banks were only ever designed to be a temporary measure. They were never meant to patch holes left in our weak social safety nets. We need to act now.”
September is Hunger Action Month a time, noted Stewart, “to work to reduce poverty in your community. Feed Ontario recommends advocating for improvements to Ontario’s social assistance programs, the creation of quality employment, and investments that help make the cost of living more affordable.”
To learn how to assist the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank, visit http://stthomaselginfoodbank.org.
For more information on Feed Ontario, visit http://feedontario.ca

INCHING UP THE LDCSB SCHOOL PRIORITY LIST

The London District Catholic School Board this week released its list of capital priorities, which includes two new high schools and four new elementary schools.
The school board will be submitting business cases to the Ministry of Education this month for the six new schools.
The list includes a new elementary and new high school for St. Thomas.

Keep in mind they were on the priority list submitted in 2023 and unfortunately, they are Numbers 4 and 5 on the priority scale so it is unlikely any movement will be seen in the near future.
Number 4 is a new elementary school to house 424 students with an 88-space childcare centre.
Number 5 is a new secondary school to accommodate 826 students.
According to the board, the greatest need is a new high school in north London.
We spoke with Trustee Bill Hall on Friday (Sept. 13) to localize matters.
“We are the fastest-growing Catholic school board in the province right now.”
You have to look no further than St. Anne’s in St. Thomas (photo above).
“We put a 10-room addition on there and we still have portables.
“We’re over-populated at St. Anne’s and Msgr. Morrison and that’s why we’re asking for another elementary school.”
The enrolment at St. Anne’s is in the range of 750 students and close to 400 students at Msgr. Morrison with portables at both schools.
There are approximately 1,000 students at St. Joseph’s Catholic High School with seven portables.
Enrolment across the board is about 27,500 students, up more than 1,500 over last school year.
Hall added, “We will be looking at sites. You’ve got all those subdivisions going in . . . and you will see development in the north (part of the city).
“We just have to see where this is going to fit best.”
As to the time frame for approval of one or more schools on the priority list, Hall advised, “Maybe April or so of next year.
“They go over all of the submissions from both of our boards and, of course, they have to look at how much money they are willing to put out.
“I don’t expect they will be giving us all of ours (requested new schools). I expect it will be coming in different years.
“I would think we will hear something about ours (the two St. Thomas schools) in the next year or two.
“We will keep submitting them and those schools will keep moving up the list.”
Hall estimated the board has in the range of 250 portables now in use.
According to the school board, 130 new portables were added over the past three years, including 50 for this school year.
“We are about to embark on the biggest school construction boom in the history of the LDCSB, and we need more,” stressed Gabe Pizzuti, chair of the Board of Trustees.
He added, “We have solid business cases for all six priorities and are ready to move on these projects as soon as we hear from the Ministry of Education.”

Related post:

A pair of new St. Thomas schools included in the London District Catholic School Board wish list

A BIG BLITZ TO HIT TINY HOPE

Almost exactly one year ago, Doug Tarry undertook a community build for the community at Oneida Nation of the Thames.
Oneida Nation Council partnered with The Imagine Build to construct a home in a three-day blitz.
See the photo below and you can read about the undertaking here.

In what is being billed as A Big Blitz to Hit Tiny Hope, Tarry and a group of area homebuilders are going to up the ante.
The plan is to construct eight tiny homes over three days at the end of this month.
The homes will stand alongside the first structure now under construction at 21 Kains Street which is to become the demonstration model for Project Tiny Hope.
The blitz will bring together Wastell Homes, Collier Homes, Winmar Construction, MP Custom Homes, Mark Thomas, DHP Homes, Woodfield Design and Build alongside Doug Tarry Homes.
The photo below shows sea containers being placed on site for storage of materials during the blitz.

Crews from each of these builders will erect walls, add plumbing, electrical, insulation, paint finishes and cabinetry to eight tiny home units located at the north end of the former Elgin Handles site.
Each energy-efficient home will be equipped with a full kitchen, bathroom, laundry, private bedroom and living room providing dignity and comfort.
In a media release, Tarry noted, “It fills a desperately needed gap with the housing needs of our community. We are honoured that so many other builders have agreed to participate in our blitz.
“We look forward to the opportunity to share this success and what is included in it with the housing industry and government throughout Ontario and Canada as we work to address the housing affordability crisis.”
Lindsay Rice, YWCA Executive Director added, “We are overwhelmed by the dedication of so many builders interested in participating in our blitz build this month. It truly demonstrates the compassion, generosity and grit that our community proudly showcases.”
The building blitz is not open to the public, however, you can follow along on social media.
To learn more about Project Tiny Hope or to donate, visit https://ywcaste.ca/project-tiny-hope/

CRUSADER CORNER

To follow up on our item last week on the St. Thomas Police Service CRU-SADER program, Helen Hodgson emailed us a note of thanks for the update.
Her husband Glenn was involved in the creation of the original Crusader program for kids.
It featured the Crusader police cruiser, highly visible throughout the city and at the head of the annual Santa Claus parade in the late 1990s.
His fundraising efforts kept the vehicle on the road as a stylish reminder of the efforts of the St. Thomas Police Service.

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And a reminder, I can be heard weekday afternoons as news anchor and reporter on 94.1 myFM in St. Thomas. As always, your comments and input are appreciated.