New study shows Kawartha Lakes just slightly above average in food bank use
A new study has found that Haliburton-Kawartha Lakes-Brock, had 3,978 people visit a food bank out of a population of 113,960. 34 per cent of these individuals are children, which is one per cent above the provincial average.
On July 24 Feed Ontario released a new study revealing hunger and food bank use rates across every electoral riding in Ontario. In partnership with Fleming College’s Geographic Information Systems program, they have created an interactive map that allows users to compare provincial electoral ridings, including information on Food Bank Use, mean and median income, and housing.
The first of its kind in Ontario, the map is intended to inform policy makers and elected officials that hunger exists in every electoral riding, and to encourage the development of long-term, evidence-based solutions that address hunger and poverty in the communities they serve.
In 2018, Ontario’s food banks were accessed by 507,977 people who visited 3,033,970 times throughout the year. The three ridings with the highest per capita food bank use in the province are: Ottawa-Vanier, Hamilton Centre, and Thunder Bay-Atikokan.
The Kawartha Lakes Food Source stands with the following recommendations made by Feed Ontario. First, preserve and improve social assistance programming by retaining the current definition of ‘disability’, reduce the claw backs on earned income under OW and ODSP to 50%, and pass Bill 60 to set social assistance rates and policies based on evidence.
Secondly, invest in affordable housing by repairing current units and building new ones. Lastly, create secure employment, improve economic opportunities, and implement policies to ensure that Ontarians have access to safe, secure, and well-paying jobs.
For more information, please visit https://feedontario.ca/report-hunger-map/.
About the Kawartha Lakes Food Source
Kawartha Lakes Food Source is a distribution center that procures and distributes food to 35 agencies, advocates for food security and poverty related issues, and collaborates with the community to support those who do not have enough. Located at 41 George St W, Lindsay.
www.kawarthalakesfoodsource.com
About Feed Ontario
Feed Ontario (formerly the Ontario Association of Food Banks) is a network of 130 direct member food banks and over 1,100 affiliate hunger-relief agencies that are united in their work to address and prevent hunger and poverty. Through emergency food support, innovative programming, and a commitment to investigating long-term solutions to poverty, the provincial food bank network works tirelessly to improve the health and well-being of the adults and families it serves.
The Kawartha Lakes Food Source does a wonderful job, but people should understand that they DO NOT support all the food banks in Lindsay. I don’t know if the numbers shown in the chart only reflects the KLFS, but the Lindsay Salvation Army Food Bank also provides food for a great number of adults and children in Lindsay and surrounding area, serving over 250 people every month – including more than 70 children and anywhere from 10-25 seniors every month! That is the equivalent to over 3000 people a year!!
The Thrift Store on Peel Street supports the Food Bank through the sale of gently used clothing and items. The proceeds are used in our community, supporting not only the Food Bank, but also Christmas Hampers, Summer Lunch programs for school children, subsidize camp for children who would not normally have this opportunity, provide for those in emergency situations where they need support of the generosity of the Salvation Army Community Services. There are so many other aspects that the S.A. reaches – with monies received through sales in the Thrift Store. As a community, we should be supporting OUR community’s less fortunate.