Talking About Food Banks in the City
We’re taking a look at food programs in St. John’s, and one of the most important is ‘emergency’ food like free meal programs and food hampers. These programs help people make ends meet, but resources never seem to be enough, revealing how much there is to be done to address the root cause of food insecurity.
Emergency Food Programs in St. John’s
From our current food program listing there are 16 food bank programs (including hamper programs and ‘food cupboards’) and 5 meal programs that have take-away and drop-in meal programs in St. John’s.
The extent of the problem is considerable; 1in 6 households are food insecure in St. John’s, the highest proportion of all Canadian cities.
Research shows that of all food bank users in Newfoundland and Labrador, 71.7% are Income Support recipients, and researchers show that for many, using a food bank can be a last resort. In fact, only 23% of all people experiencing food insecurity visit a food bank.
Speaking to the Issues
In fall 2020 Food First NL partnered with Jimmy Pratt Foundation to co-hosted a focus group and public webinar to discuss issues about food banks in St. John’s. Jimmy Pratt Foundation, an organization that supports programs aimed at creating a “healthy, inclusive, and resilient society,” has been co-running the Community Food Helpline with Food First NL since the spring of 2020.
From feedback of people using the Community Food Helpline, three areas that could help improve food bank programming and access in St. John’s were around the frequency of visits, quality of food, and ability to have healthy food. Then, during a focus group with with 6 food bank operators representing 4 different food banks, some key themes about operations were noted:
The need for coordination between food banks
Meeting different needs for different clientele
Using resources and and budgets to support dignified access
To share these concerns with the community, Jimmy Pratt Foundation and Food First NL hosted a webinar, “Never Enough: Food Banks and Food Insecurity in St. John’s” with 6 panelists representing community organizations, food banks, and people who use food banks.
Debbie Wiseman, a food security and anti-poverty activist said, “we’re putting people in these situations where we need to choose between eating and paying rent, or paying rent and paying for medication.”
Using a food bank can also be a very difficult experience for folks experiencing food insecurity because of the stigma associated with it. So while food banks meeting those basic needs, there are ways to ensure food banks as accessible, dignified, and welcoming.
The discussion also reinforced our understanding of food insecurity as an income problem. Panelists discussed advocating for a living wage, and supporting a Universal Basic Income to address the root cause of food insecurity.
“What we’ve learned is that food insecurity is not a food bank problem. In fact, food banks are really a last resort and they’re picking up where all the rest of the systems have failed.”
Opportunities for Change
These sessions brought up a lot of important points how food banks can serve clients with dignity and how to advocate for change.
For food bank operators:
Dignity is key. Welcoming practices, including choice of food and that meet’s their individual needs.
Improved communication between community food organizations could be very beneficial for both the organizations themselves and the clients they serve. With some sharing of resources, clients have extra opportunity to have their needs met, and it prevents food from going to waste.
Offer your donors the chance to learn more about how your organization operates and what it is you really need.
For donors:
To make the most of your donation, just ask! Each program has different needs so this will ensure your donation is a most needed item.
Consider a monetary donation. Money allows food banks to get what they need, and gift cards let clients shop for themselves.
For everyone: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! There are many organizations working to address immediate needs and change the conditions that make food banks necessary in the first place.