Food depot use up 14 percent in last year
By Derek Kilbourn
Tuesday, November 11 2008
By Derek Kilbourn
People for a Healthy Community’s food depot saw a 14 percent increase in the number of people using its services this past year. Many of the clients coming in are long-standing Gabriolans.
PHC executive director Barbara Saunders and emergency food depot coordinator Shirley Petersen reported on the depot situation during the PHC annual general meeting on Wednesday, November 5th.
Saunders said, “Statistics are a big part of the food depot.
“Going through them for today’s report I had to double check. I knew we were seeing larger numbers in the depot. But it became obvious with the stats we were keeping there was a 14 percent increase in the past year, which is substantial.
“That means more food, more fund-raising, more volunteers and it multiplies everything that we do here.”
According to Shirley’s report, there are a core group of clients who use the food depot twice a week.
“We are constantly aware of homelessness, which comes and goes for some and is more constant for others.
“We have watched as young people sleep in the snow over the winter. Those who come to the depot for periods of years are those who appear to suffer from a variety of emotional issues and certainly have barriers to employment, for the most part.
“Others who come to the depot may be employed persons who have a wage. These may be families with children, single parents or individuals. Some may only have to attend intermittently, others weekly.
“We are often reminded that with the government income assistance program having static rates, sometimes single people are unable to pay rent and eat.
“One who is fortunate enough to obtain shelter of some kind, will then have zero funds, or almost zero funds for food and other supplies.
“The days when the emergency food depot was adequate are past. For many the only food they get is whatever we offer. Obviously that’s not enough for a week.”
Shirley was asked after her report if the new people coming in to the food depot are new to the island or Gabriolans.
She answered, “They are Gabriolan, contrary to popular belief, some of them long-standing. Some didn’t know about us until now, others are just going down, down, down. I think local employment rates are $9 an hour, figure it out. Look at the rental rates in the Sounder ads. We’re seeing middle-class people coming in to the food bank, and they absolutely need it. I think in these cases we’re subsidizing -- we’re making sure they eat every day. For single people it’s a different story. Often they don’t get to eat every day.”
Shirley also pointed out the socializing aspect of the depot is almost as important as the food.
“Many are quite isolated on the island, some of these people are unwelcome, and experience feelings of judgment in the community. There are those who certainly wish that we had soup more often.”
2007 Statistics from PHC Food Depot
1815 adults served
652 children served
average of 54 users per week
Of 197 households of regular users surveyed in March, 32 returned surveys:
22% had full-time employment
69% were single
28% own their own home
In the 2007 fiscal year, 17,816 pounds of food were donated (valued at $39,195)
2,648 bags of food were distributed
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