Charities in Kingston warn of increased demand for free lunch programs
As the cost of fruit and vegetables continues to climb, community organizations in Kingston that provide free lunch programs say they are seeing hundreds more people needing their services.
Judy Fyfe is the executive director of the St. Vincent de Paul Society; she says the group is seeing new faces all the time.
“Alarm bells should be ringing,” she says. “Our community needs to know this is crisis mode.”
At its peak, the charity can serve up to 358 people a day, says Fyfe. That’s up from 140 a few years before. She says the society is averaging a 92 per cent increase in numbers.
Other programs are seeing the same increase. Martha’s Table can serve 450 people per day, a 156 per cent increase over pre-pandemic numbers, according to Executive Director Ronda Candy.
Fyfe says soaring inflation is adversely affecting pensioners and families.
“The folks that show up now are people who were making it before, who didn’t need charitable assistance,” she says. “And now, if they don’t come, they don’t eat.”
This year, the organization is on track to give out more than 50,000 hot meals, and has had to close their dining hall and turn to take-out to keep up with demand.
“The loss is significant,” she says. “This used to be a place where people could come, draw comfort from their peers, feel like they belong.”
Food prices are up 10 per cent.
At Martha’s Table, Candy says costs are increasing and donations are down.
“I feel like that’s a result of everyone else feeling the pinch. Our donors are so supportive and everyone donates what they can,” she explains. “It’s a combination of costs going up and donations going down, and we’re in the middle trying to do more meals than ever. So it’s a real challenge.”
Candy explains that what they’re seeing every day exceeds even what they would see during peak holiday numbers in previous years.
“Previously, our largest meal was Thanksgiving and the Christmas holiday and we cooked for 350 people. We planned ahead, we worked and we cooked turkeys and so on. Now we cook for 450 people every single day. So, it’s busy. You have to put it into context. Every single day is Christmas dinner.”
Fyfe says supportive programs, like St. Vincent de Paul, will always come through, but she continues to be concerned.
“We’re nervous,” she says. “This is not just a little blip. This is year after year increased numbers and nothing on the horizon suggests it’s going to lower.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
$70M Lotto Max winners kept prize a secret from family for 2 months
During a special winner celebration near their hometown, Doug and Enid shared the story of how they discovered they were holding a Lotto Max ticket worth $70 million and how they kept this huge secret for so long.
Courteney Cox says her partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in therapy
Courteney Cox's longtime partner Johnny McDaid once broke up with her in a therapy session.
Are Canadians getting sick from expired food?
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.