Heather Hayes, the executive director of the Orangeville Food Bank, emphasizes that the increasing demand for food assistance is alarming. In 2015, they supported around 300 people a month, but now that number has surged to nearly 1,400. This reflects how escalating living costs are forcing more individuals to rely on food banks. Hayes states, "More and more people are having to access the food bank because the cost of living is just unacceptable at this point."
The root of the problem lies in the stark disparity between food donations and the growing demand. The Orangeville Food Bank currently receives approximately 20,000 pounds of food donations each month while distributing about 50,000 pounds. This significant shortfall is described as "unsustainable for us" by Hayes, indicating the pressing need for increased community support and action to combat food insecurity.
In response to the food bank's increasing strain, Mayor Lisa Post initiated the Rooted in Community food drive. She believed that engaging the community through a friendly competition would motivate residents to contribute food donations. According to her, "I knew that if I challenged the community and came up with a fun, creative idea the community would rally together. That’s just what our community does: we support one another."
Toronto’s Daily Bread food bank is also highlighting a larger issue of food insecurity in the region, labeling the situation as reaching "crisis-level". Feed Ontario reported that in a 12-month period beginning in spring 2023, one million people turned to food banks across Ontario. This underlines the urgent necessity for addressing food insecurity as many families struggle to make ends meet.
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