Surrey Food Bank breaks record for usage

It looks like people are struggling more than ever, as the Surrey Food Bank exclusively tells 1130 NewsRadio it set a new all-time record for usage in July.

“It’s been busy all summer,” said Executive Director Kim Savage. “We had our highest number of clients in July… It was a record-breaking month, which is not a great thing to have at a food bank with just shy of 21,000 clients… And those people are relying on us for their food security needs.”

She explains that with classes getting underway next week, demand is peaking right now.

“The food bank is definitely a buzz of activity. Certainly, families are coming to us and getting their kids ready for back-to-school. We have a couple of community volunteer groups coming in and doing things like backpack and school supplies drives. And then of course, we’re part of a bigger network of social service organizations addressing food security.”

Savage blames the tanking economy, low wages and the overall cost of everything, like groceries, gas, and housing, for putting people in this position.

“They really take their toll on lower and middle-income families, and they really bear the brunt of trying to keep up with their expenses. We’re just here to support and be a bit of a pressure relief valve so nobody is going hungry.”

The silver lining is with increasing numbers, accessing the foodbank is perhaps breaking the stigma around asking for help.

“We’ve done a lot of work at the Surrey Food Bank to remove barriers and make it a really welcoming place, so people don’t need to feel embarrassed. We certainly wouldn’t want somebody being embarrassed to be the reason they don’t seek out help,” adds Savage.

The clientele ranges from the very young to the very old.

“About half of our clients are newcomers to Canada, be it either through immigration or refugees. About 50 per cent of our clients are children, so they’re under the age of 18. About 15 per cent of our clients are seniors. And then all of our families would identify as being low-income or relying on government assistance.”

Savage admits, given the economic climate, she’s not shocked by the statistics.

“It’s discouraging because people are doing the best they can out there, and they keep falling behind. It’s just a big problem to address.”

The situation has left her heartbroken.

“It’s pretty tough to see because behind every one of those statistics is a real family. It’s a real person, so that’s what really wears on my heart sometimes.”

Savage says they always accept monetary donations but remind the public they continue to look for items that cross different cultures, backgrounds and religions, like rice, beans, lentils and halal options.