‘A record no one wants’: Surrey Food Bank usage at all-time high ahead of Thanksgiving

As people across the province prepare for Thanksgiving, the Surrey Food Bank says demand has hit a new, heartbreaking high.

“We just keep creeping up,” the bank’s Executive Director, Kim Savage, exclusively told 1130 NewsRadio.

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“Between August and September, about 60 new families needed the services of the food bank… which represents about 120 to 150 people.”

“It’s a record no one wants to set.”

That’s in addition to the nearly 21,000 people who already use the service on a monthly basis — an initial record reached in August before kids went back to school.

“The numbers just keep going up, and it’s a record no one wants to set, to be honest,” she added.

Savage says the organization is working to ensure people are being fed, but she admits it’s hard.

“We’re really working with a lot of our food donors to make sure there are good options available, but frankly, it’s at the expense of us being able to do our monetary fundraising, that is also the backbone of our services in being able to provide what we do.”

She says that while struggling to secure donations, the recent Canada Post strike made their work even more complicated.

“We were set at the very end of September to send out a Thanksgiving campaign to about 4,000 of our donors, requesting that they support a family to help set the table for Thanksgiving. And of course, the postal strike put all of that by the wayside. It’s a lot, but we’re not alone. There are lots of charities in the same situation we are.”

To circumvent the job action, she explains they’ve focused their fundraising efforts through email and other digital platforms.

“But there is something — to this day — something about getting that letter in the mail, asking for help that really resonates with people.”

While everyone deals with a sluggish economy and the postal strike, she says the food bank is facing a unique challenge.

“Food donations, not just from our food donors and retail partners, but families, different people coming by, have increased, but monetary donations have flattened out. Probably reflective of what’s going in the economy and people feeling tentative. We’re doing OK, but it would be nice for it to be a little bit stronger than it is right now. It’s a bump I’m hoping turns around by Christmas. Year-over-year, we’re down about $100,000, but we’re up almost $500,000 in food donations.”

Savage credits ongoing awareness of the needs of food banks as one reason why food donations are still going strong.

“Lots of organizations have been talking about food insecurity a lot. It’s a pretty well-known issue right now in our community, so I think it’s very tangible for people to look at what’s in their pantry and bring it to the food bank or do a little extra grocery shopping and drop it in the bins at the grocery stores. I think it doesn’t translate the same way when we’re talking about financial resources.”

She’s applauding the public for continuing to step up.

“The food is good to go. That message around, ‘Don’t give us the expired can from five years ago,’ it has really reached people. They’re donating good items, and they’re donating culturally appropriate items, which is amazing.”

As we inch closer to Christmas, she’s hopeful food donations will grow.

“People gather around food, so there is always that pressure from now until the end of the year for people to feel like they have enough on their shelves to gather with their friends and family.”

“That sense of not having enough, not having enough food specifically, takes a big emotional toll.”

Ahead of Thanksgiving, Savage adds there are plans for staff to hand out pies and proteins to those who need it most in the community.

Despite any positive work being done by the food bank, Savage admits it’s emotionally draining to see the empty, desperate faces of a growing clientele, many of whom are children and immigrants.

“I walked past a line-up of about 200 people who are standing outside our door right now, waiting for services. There are lots of little ones in that line. Lots of toddlers, lots of babies, lots of pregnant moms. I’d be lying if I didn’t say it doesn’t take an emotional toll. It’s hard to sit and empathize day in and day out with people’s needs because it’s significant, and it’s very hard on them. That sense of not having enough, not having enough food specifically, takes a big emotional toll.”

As a mother herself, Savage tries to keep her composure as she says helping little children is rewarding, but painful.

“It breaks my heart. I’m a mom… and the thought of not having enough for my child, I think we all resonate with that.”

Food Banks Canada says more than 2 million people nationwide use the food bank every month, and nearly 30 per cent of food banks report running out of food before demand has been met.