We live in a beautiful, resource rich area. It can be shocking then to realize that food insecurity is a real problem…even in our communities. According to Roberta Sommerville, Executive Director of Kawartha Lakes Food Source, 1600 – 2100 people of whom 40% are children, use the food bank on a monthly basis in the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a community effort to reduce hunger in the City of Kawartha Lakes. They do this by maintaining a central warehouse to supply food to organizations that provide food to individuals in need. Local food banks provide short term relief for emergency situations. Volunteers at public food banks assess each client’s income and expenses. If they have less than $200 left over each month after expenses, they are eligible for food.
Who uses food banks? Seniors, families with young children, and people who are employed but do not earn enough to make ends meet.
“Ontario’s income gap between the richest and poorest families is now at levels not seen since the Great Depression in the 1930s…. Fifteen per cent of Ontario’s children live below the Low Income Measure, according to Statistics Canada .”
Statistics Canada reports a staggering 34% of older Canadians (65+) who live on their own are at nutritional risk and financially insecure. Many seniors struggle to meet their basic needs of housing, food and other essentials.
23% of Kawartha Lakes and 28% of County of Haliburton residents are over the age of 65. It is important that we are vigilant in monitoring and addressing food security for our older neighbours.
It’s Easy to Help Out!
There are a variety of ways you can get involved with Kawartha Lakes Food Support to play an active role, helping to feed the hungry.
Donate
You can make a donation through cash, cheque, Master Card, Visa or make a donation of food. Financial donations go a long way – a donation of $10 turns into the distribution of $60 worth of food!
Have a Food Drive
It’s easy to sponsor a food drive. You can collect food items in lieu of gifts for your birthday or anniversary. Have a challenge at work. Encourage your kids to get involved and have a food drive at their school.
Volunteer!
There are no shortages of jobs for volunteers. Everything from sorting food, stocking shelves, coordinating events, picking up food donations, driving, or working on a committee. People are needed who have skills in marketing, finance, coaching, public speaking – or simply people who are hard workers. You can see more detail about volunteering on the website at http://kawarthalakesfoodsource.com/how-to-help/.
There are 9 local food banks in the Kawartha Lakes. You can find the full list at http://kawarthalakesfoodsource.com/find-a-food-bank/.
In a three-month period, the Food Source provides 11,000 servings of milk, fresh fruit and healthy snacks such as granola bars to hungry schoolchildren in 20 of our local schools. That would not be possible without donations and volunteers.
Click to access food-security-prs-background-final-aug-20-2014.pdf
http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/82-003-x/82-003-x2013003-eng.htm
Bethany Ontario 