FOOD BANK, OUT OF THE COLD REMAIN IN HIGH DEMAND

FOOD BANK SEEING 43 PER CENT INCREASE IN DEMAND OVER SAME TIME LAST YEAR

It appears more Muskokans are struggling to make ends meet.

By the time May rolls around, organizations such as the Manna Food Bank and the Bracebridge Out of the Cold Program are usually slowing down as the return of seasonal employment provides a muchneeded income boost for many. But this year, the demands on these organizations are greater than ever.

Manna Food Bank president Sam Robinson says the number of families using their service remains significant. In fact, the number of new clients turning to the food bank for help in the first few months of the year has doubled over last year.

Year over year, January saw an increase in client visits of 12 per cent; February, 34 per cent; and March, 43 per cent.

"That is notable, and it should be going the other way this time of year — holding or beginning to decline — and it just isn't," she said. "That is a lot of families."

The Bracebridge Out of the Cold Program is seeing the same pattern. Normally organizers would be looking to wind down the hot meal service for the summer, but the need is too great.

"We've gone up. We're now over 100," said Judi Brouse, program chair, of the number of meals the volunteer organization prepares in the kitchen of Bracebridge United Church. "About two and a half months ago, we said so should we close down for the summer because our numbers are always lower. And everybody said, 'Are you kidding? Our numbers are still increasing.' We can't not provide food for the summer."

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Bracebridge Out of the Cold has remained open during the summer months, although in previous years the numbers had dropped slightly.

Clientele for these organizations is comprised of working poor, individuals on disability income support, and seniors. They all struggle with the high cost of groceries, gas and especially housing — the latter being an issue Robinson feels all levels of government need to work to find a solution to.

"We have a lot of people that are working one, two jobs. But still, if they can get a meal or two a week it helps them bring it all together," said Brouse, of those struggling to get by on minimum wage jobs.

Robinson cites the Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) as an issue.

"By the time they pay their housing, they've got next to nothing for groceries," she said. "That's not the food bank's business, that's the District (of Muskoka)'s business and the province but we feel the impact of it."

Brouse notes seniors who struggle to survive on Old Age Security and Canada Pension Plan monies are turning to organizations such as theirs for help.

"Try and live on OAS. It's worse than ODSP. So, that's a little scary," she said. "And then if you have any type of disability of any sort it becomes really hard. It really does."

These volunteer organizations are also impacted by escalating food prices; and, because in February they changed their policy to allow clients to return to the food bank once every three weeks instead of four, they feel it even more so.

"We have a profoundly generous community and, although they are struggling with the same expenses everybody else does, they always remember the food bank is here and people are in more dire situations than they may be," said Robinson, noting that what the food bank does need is volunteers.

"There are a variety of jobs and anybody who's good at heavy lifting would be welcomed because of the amount of groceries that we move," she said. "Our volunteers are getting tired."

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: With an upcoming provincial election June 2, our Bracebridge Examiner reporter would like candidates to be mindful of what they can do to help support Muskoka's most vulnerable.

"It should be going the other way this time of year - holding or beginning to decline - and it just isn't."

- Sam Robinson