For some, the holiday period can be a difficult and challenging hardship. Families, strained by extra winter expenses, such as increased heating costs, temporary seasonal layoffs, or seniors struggling with winter conditions, isolation, or lack of support, often find themselves without the means to feed themselves.
Through the generous help of volunteer staff and donations—large and small, food banks throughout Ontario, offer those in need, a helping hand. Encumbered by a seemingly unrestrained rise in food prices, due in part to inflationary pressures, a broader range of working families are facing a real critical shortfall in their ability to afford even meager food purchases, through no fault of their own.
The Burk’s Falls and District Food Bank, one of the many area food banks, has seen a 40 per cent increase in requests for services. Statistics Canada estimates that one in eight Canadian households is food-insecure, particularly amongst female lone-parent, single earner, families.
Established in 1992, the Burk’s Falls and District Food Bank provides food packages to community and area residents who register by phone for aid. Karen Williams, a member of the board of directors, reports that increased demand has kept volunteers extremely busy this year.
Williams estimates that the majority of clients are comprised of children and single seniors. The increase has strained resources. Fortunately, the community and corporate donors have kept up with the demand, offering food products and financial contributions.
The food bank catalogues all incoming food and strictly adheres to food safety protocols. Canned and packaged goods are sorted by expiry dates, and frozen products are strictly monitored. Available fresh products are distributed promptly. Volunteer staff take requests by phone, continuing a policy change implemented during the COVID lockdowns, and assemble an order that provides a week’s worth of food or approximately one-quarter of the food needs of a client. You can find their Facebook page, HERE.
Based on a family’s size and composition, food is boxed up and clients arrive by appointment. A volunteer brings food out to the respective recipient. People are no longer allowed to enter the Food Bank, a policy that will remain enforced. Open on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10 am, they provide non-perishable food, fresh food as well as hygiene products, and baby items when available.
Christmas baskets are an important service during December each year. Volunteers work steadily to compile a traditional family holiday dinner with turkey, fixings, and additional foods.
None of this is possible, of course, without the selfless donations of countless local community members, explains Karen Williams.
The Burk’s Falls and District Food Bank is located at 150 Huston Street, (Rear Entrance) in Burks Falls. Orders are taken Monday to Friday by phone at 705-380-4669. Volunteers are always welcome.
“Thank goodness we are here to help,” notes Williams, acknowledging the kindness and empathetic support of local citizens and municipal donors.
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