'155% INCREASE IN NEW FAMILIES, FIRST-TIME PANTRY USERS'

ing the food pantry through the year, Caneo said.

"Alarm bells were going off," he added. "The peak of the pandemic was gone and people were spending money again. It didn't look promising."

For the first time, GCFP engaged in a community campaign appealing for more than merely pantry staples such as peanut butter and cereal.

The mail campaign was simple — asking the community for support and providing residents with a prepaid envelope addressed to the pantry.

And the campaign was a success, bringing in about $168,000.

The funds were used to re-establish the community garden and continue with the Good Food Collective program in collaboration with Community Living Georgina and Routes Connecting Communities, both of which will be expanded this year.

The donations also allowed the food pantry to purchase a used van for food pickup and deliveries.

Unlike other social assistance services, such as housing, employment and public health that receive core funding, there's no core funding for feeding people, Caneo said.

There's a flip side to record-setting donations — more mouths to feed.

"There's a lot of people in need in our community," said pantry volunteer

Dyanne Smith.

"There are some who used to give and now come to use the pantry. And many come in to just get by."

More than 10,300 residents used the pantry for emergency food in 2022, surpassing the 2017 record high where more than 9,800 residents visited the pantry.

The number of residents accessing the food pantry has increased by about 37 per cent since 2019 — an upward trend that's concerning, Caneo said.

"Poverty is still a hidden issue," Caneo said. "Many work a couple of part-time jobs and still need to come to the food pantry."

In 2022, there was an eight per cent increase in visits to the pantry; a 23 per cent increase in households served; and an overall increase of about 28 per cent in the number of people

served.

But what's more concerning, Caneo said, is the increase in new families and first-time pantry visits — up 155 per cent from 2021.

New families and firsttime pantry users were able to "avoid it for many years, then were forced to go to the food pantry," Caneo said.

Just as the economy was opening up, residents were hit with skyrocketing food and energy costs, rising interest rates and inflation.

Monthly payments went up. Rent went up. Renters made-up more than 85 per cent of food pantry users in 2022.

"That means less actual cash to buy food," Caneo said. "Some of our people have to make the difficult decision between paying rent or buying food."

Since more than half of pantry users live in Keswick, the GCFP is working toward establishing a satellite location as well as starting a community fridge program, Caneo said.

Along with more families using the food pantry, families are relying on food assistance more often, Caneo said.

About 40 per cent of pantry visit the food pantry either once a month or once every two months.

The Good Food Collective program also expanded its pay-what-you-can community lunch from biweekly to weekly, preparing more than 200 hot and healthy meals each week.

The collective is also broadening its food skills workshops this year, offering budget-friendly and healthy cooking classes throughout the year.

"Programs are expanding exponentially because there is a need," Caneo said.

For more information, visit georginafoodpantry.com or goodfoodcollective.ca.

STORY BEHIND THE STORY: Reporter Amanda Persico learned more residents, more families and more first-timers are using the food pantry.