A South Shore food bank is caught up in a controversy for charging its users for food baskets, and while some don’t mind the practice, others are against it.
L'Entraide Chez Nous de Longueuil charges $5 per adult and $2 per child for its food baskets.
Fiona Crossling, executive director of Share the Warmth in Point St. Charles, says the practice is not all that uncommon.
“Most food banks that I know and that we work with across the city do charge something, and it can go anywhere from $1 like what we charge up to $5 or $7, depending on the food bank,” she said.
Crossling says the $1 fee per adult brings in about $900 a month for her organization.
“You can see the amount of food that goes out. It's about $50 to $100 worth per box. So that money helps to buy food, but it doesn't go very far,” she said.
But the boxes do go far for people like John Ranger. He's been to different food banks and has paid up to $5 per basket and says he doesn't mind making a contribution. He says it's a small price to pay.
“A lot of the stuff is really good. Two litres of milk - hello! That's $4 right there,” he said.
Others, like fellow food basket recipient Kathy Tatte, agree.
“What they ask you for is nothing in a way. $1 to feed your family a little bit more. It's worth it,” she said.
But not everyone shares that opinion. There are no fees for the baskets at Sun Youth. Executive vice president Sid Stevens says for some people, every dollar counts and even buying a single bus ticket is out of reach.
“If they don't have transportation, they certainly don't have money to pay for their food,” he said.
In spite of the outcry, Crossling says she empathizes with the staff at the food bank in Longueuil.
“I hope people who are criticizing that food bank are equally generous in giving to that food bank and to others,” she said.
