Community group looks to help as Ottawa Food Bank sees a surge in demand
While food banks across Ontario continue to experience a surge in use, one Ottawa community group is working to fight food insecurity.
The Food for All Ottawa Facebook page has been bringing in 150 to 200 new members a month, connecting food donors directly with people in need.
- Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
- The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App
Founders Julie Charron and Danielle Price first created the page during the COVID-19 pandemic, after seeing a rise in food requests on a local buy nothing maternity group.
"They were being turned away, they were asking too much," Price said. "We decided to create this group where people could just ask for food when they needed it."
"We would work together to get food donations throughout the city. We would go and pick them up and put little baskets together for people that are in need,” explained Charron.
As Canadians experience sky-high food prices, it has only driven more to the Facebook group. The statistics of its user base paint a picture of a community in need.
“There's 3,500 people, approximately 84 per cent of whom are women," Price said. "It makes me think that there are a lot of single mothers in this group; a lot of people are asking for school snacks."
On Sunday, the Food for All Ottawa page saw around a dozen posts, some from people requesting food and others from those who have the means to give.
"It seems that more people are wanting to assist when we have this many people in need," said Charron.
Meanwhile, the Ottawa Food Bank is nearing its breaking point. CEO Rachael Wilson told CTV News on Saturday the organization will be reducing its services in order to stay afloat.
"We are struggling to be able to provide enough food and the reality is we cannot keep up with the demand,” said Wilson. "We're seeing double-digit increases every single month; there's just no way this is sustainable for us."
Charron and Price admit while their group is a step in the right direction, it is not a permanent solution.
"It would be nice if salaries would raise a little bit to assist with the cost of food and the cost of living," Charron said.
"If the city could find a way to fund the food bank better and continue to assist people the way they have in the past, that would be great," Price said.
For food banks and community groups alike, the call for donations has never been louder. Monetary donations can be made on the Ottawa Food Bank website, and those with food items can access the Food for All Ottawa group on Facebook.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
From AI running wild to collapsing ecosystems, government report outlines future disruptions
From artificial intelligence running wild to collapsing ecosystems, a new Canadian government report outlines 35 disruptions that could rattle the country in the near future.
B.C. serial killer Robert Pickton hospitalized after prison attack
British Columbia serial killer Robert Pickton was attacked and sustained life-threatening injuries in a Quebec prison Sunday in what officials described as a 'major assault.'
opinion Tom Mulcair: With Trudeau spiralling, Mark Carney waits in the wings
In his latest column for CTVNews.ca, former NDP leader Tom Mulcair argues that if there's an unofficial frontrunner in the eventual race to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader, it has to be former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney.
Toronto Blue Jays fan struck by 110 m.p.h foul ball offered tickets, signed baseball by team
The Toronto Blue Jays have offered tickets and a signed baseball to a fan who says she was struck in the face by a 110 m.p.h (177 km/h) foul ball at Friday’s game.
Matthew Perry's death is being investigated over ketamine level found in actor's blood, reports say
An investigation has been opened into the death of Matthew Perry and how the “Friends” actor received the anesthetic ketamine, which was ruled a contributing factor in his death.
OPP continues to investigate boat collision north of Kingston, Ont. that left 3 people dead
Ontario Provincial Police continue to investigate a long weekend fatal boat collision on Bobs Lake, north of Kingston, Ont.
Police in Ontario say suspects charged in armed home invasion near Toronto part of 'larger criminal network'
Police in Ontario say a group of suspects charged in an armed home invasion north of Toronto last year were driving a vehicle stolen in a carjacking in Calgary just one month earlier.
Stolen septic truck swerves through traffic, spike belt needed to stop it: Manitoba RCMP
A 29-year-old woman has been charged after police say she stole a septic truck from a Manitoba community and drove erratically on the highway.
Orphan orca's extended family spotted off northeast side of Vancouver Island
Members of a killer whale pod related to an orphan orca calf that escaped a remote British Columbia tidal lagoon last month have been spotted off the northeast coast of Vancouver Island.