Supply disruptions and rising costs: Montreal food bank drops turkey donations
The rapid rise in food prices is impacting many of Montreal’s food banks.
Supermarket prices have gone up as much as 30 per cent, which experts attribute to galloping inflation caused by production slowdowns during the pandemic, disruptions in the global supply chain, and climate change.
Turkey producers were already facing low supply before COVID hit, making the holiday staple harder to obtain.
For outreach organization Sun Youth, this is bad news. The non-profit says it expects to distribute 5,000 food baskets this holiday season, but says there may not be enough to go around, as more and more families are having trouble making ends meet.
“We’re planning for 5,000 families and there are few spots left. There’s less than 1,000 spots left for emergency cases, so we’re gonna max out, which is something we don’t alway do,” explains Sun Youth’s Eric Kingsley.
One of the tougher decisions Kingsley made was replacing Sun Youth’s distribution of 3,000 turkeys with chicken instead. Sun Youth had ordered the turkeys in September from a B.C. supplier, but recent floodings in the province cut off supply lines, leaving the charity empty-handed.
Sun Youth says it’s inviting donors with access to frozen turkeys to bring them over to their distribution facility, so at least a handful of families can enjoy a turkey this holiday season.
DOUBLE CHALLENGE
Inflation poses a double challenge for food banks, driving more people to seek help with their rising bills, while making it harder for charities to buy food to help them, said Martin Munger, general manager of the Food Banks of Quebec.
"Since September, it is more difficult," he said. "You can really feel it, in going to food banks, that there are more people coming than the summer or last spring."
It's not just food. In Quebec, the consumer price index rose 5.3 per cent over one year, according to Statistics Canada.
"When rent is more expensive, when travel costs more, when children's clothes to go to school are more expensive, the compressible mass at the end is food," said Munger. "When they can't support themselves, people come to food banks."
Already in March, nearly 610,000 people went to food banks each month, according to a report published by Food Banks of Quebec. This was a 22 per cent increase from before the pandemic. This figure could be even higher with the surge in inflation.
While the spirit of solidarity during the holiday season is a welcome help, Munger said that the first few months of the year are difficult for people who go to food banks.
"Once the holiday season [haul] has been distributed, the months of January, February and March are generally very difficult for food banks and the people who need them," he said.
NEED FOR STORAGE SPACE
Members of the Quebec Food Bank network also need more storage space, says Munger. The organization has just gotten aid from the Quebec government of up to $3 million to finance projects in this vein.
The amounts were provided for in the budget unveiled in March by the Minister of Finance, Eric Girard, but the official announcement was made on Monday.
With their food recovery programs in partnership with 440 supermarkets in Quebec, food banks need more freezing and processing space, explains Mr. Munger.
"When you receive meat that has not passed its date, but is approaching the pre-emption date, well, you have to freeze it or process it."
Needs vary from organization to organization, with some food banks needing kitchen space, others with other problems. Spending the $3 million will be no problem, with a committee selecting them, Munger said.
He was unable to say how many projects will be selected with the $3 million envelope. He noted that part of the funding would be obtained from private donors and that government money could subsidize up to 70 per cent of a project.
On average, a project could represent an investment of around $200,000, he said.
--With files from The Canadian Press
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW From yearning for a change to cost of living, why some Canadians have left or may leave the country
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
NEW Capital gains tax change 'shortsighted' and 'sows division' business groups tell Freeland
Forging ahead with increasing Canada's capital gains inclusion rate 'sows division,' and is a 'shortsighted' way to improve the deficit, business groups are warning Finance Minister Chrystia Freeland.
Ontario man frustrated after $3,500 paving job leaves driveway in shambles
An Ontario man considering having his driveway paved received a quote from a company for $7,000, but then, another paver in the neighbourhood knocked on his door and offered half that rate.
Defence attacks Stormy Daniels' credibility as she returns to the stand in Trump's hush money trial
Stormy Daniels will return to the witness stand Thursday in Donald Trump's hush money trial as the defence tries to undermine the credibility of the porn actor's salacious testimony about their alleged sexual encounter and the money she was paid to keep quiet.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
What is whooping cough and should Canadians be concerned as Europe declares outbreak?
There is currently a whooping cough epidemic in Europe, with 10 times as many cases compared to the previous two years. While an outbreak has not been declared nationwide in Canada, whooping cough is regularly detected in the country.
Florida deputies who fatally shot U.S. airman burst into wrong apartment, attorney says
Deputies responding to a disturbance call at a Florida apartment complex burst into the wrong unit and fatally shot a Black U.S. Air Force airman who was home alone when they saw he was armed with a gun, an attorney for the man's family said Wednesday.
Air Canada ranks near bottom on customer satisfaction: survey
Air Canada ranks below most other major North American airlines on customer satisfaction, with airfares a particular sore point, according to a new survey.