Food Bank usage up in 2011
The Viking Food Bank distributed 62 food hampers last year. That number is up from 57 in 2010 but a fair ways from the 86 distributed in 2009.
Food bank clients must live between Holden and Irma to be eligible to access the Viking Food Bank. In the early years of the food bank, which began in 2002, the majority of the clients were from the Holden area. However there is a growing trend towards fewer Holden clients and more Viking clients. Last year 38 hampers went to Viking, 14 to Holden and 5 each to Kinsella and Bruce.
The growing number of Viking clients in extreme poverty is an alarming trend. It has led the agency to spearhead a meeting on March 1 of various organizations in town as to coming up with a community wide response. Food Bank workers have noted an alarming increase in people living without utilities and in substandard conditions. This situation has led to some people resorting to dangerous methods of trying to stay warm in the winter.
There are no simple solutions to this level of poverty. Food banks and other short term support can help people get through tough stretches, but they can also mask deeper issues that need to be solved.
In the meantime, the food bank will continue to do its best in helping people.
Most people who access the food bank fall into two broad categories. The first is families with children. Often we find there is extended family or friends staying with them.
The second group is seniors or nearly seniors. Often they have health issues or they are not yet receiving OAS or other programs that help.
The Viking Food Bank is open on Wednesday mornings. Anyone in need of a hamper can call 780-336-3103 before 10 a.m. on Wednesdays.
Households within the region are eligible for two hampers per calendar year with no questions asked.
After two hampers are given out, clients are referred to appropriate agencies to ask deeper questions.
There are times when further food hampers are appropriate and are given as required.
There are also times when the client needs to seek help in other ways. These situations may include anything from applying for income support, to addiction counseling and training on how to budget properly.
However, we rarely experience these types of situations. In 2011, five per cent of the food bank clients accessed the food bank only one time in the calendar year, and a further 19 per cent accessed it twice without requesting further assistance. The volunteers and clients of the Viking Food Bank thank the many who contributed in 2011 to keep the food bank running. While at times, in the previous year, the shelves were quite bare, by year end and through January things were looking better. Various individuals and businesses were very generous with financial gifts. The food bank does not approach potential donors nor has it ever held an active campaign for financial donations; and yet every year since opening, the food bank has been able to finish the year in the black. Residents of Viking have proven themselves very generous in not wanting to see their neighbours go without.
