With food insecurity on the rise, the volunteers and staff at Bradford’s Helping Hand Food Bank are doing their best to welcome and accommodate new clients.
Recently, the food bank saw its busiest shift ever, with roughly 76 clients visiting on the evening of Sept. 6, including roughly 12 families of six or more people, according to Grace Wittig, who along with Executive Director Carolyn Khan are the only two paid staff at the food bank.
“It was really busy,” Wittig recalled during a recent open house in the food bank’s new location at 177 Church St. on Sept. 22.
That’s not entirely unexpected as she explained the first Friday of the month is always one of the busiest shifts, requiring five volunteers, plus Wittig to ensure everything goes smoothly.
Those facing tough times but feeling uneasy about visiting the food bank should know they’re not alone, as 30 per cent of households in the region experienced some form of food insecurity in 2023, according to recent data from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.
That’s part of an ongoing trend both locally and provincially, and Khan previously explained an average of 42 new families register each month, ranging from singles and couples to large families.
“Any time that we are open, people are welcome to come in,” Khan said.
New clients can expect to be greeted by a volunteer on the front desk who will help them get registered, after which a host will take them on a tour of the facility and explain how to use the market.
Similar to a grocery store, the market has different aisles for breads, dry foods, canned goods and fresh produce as well as coolers and freezers along the outside with dairy, eggs, meats and more produce.
There’s even a dedicated sections for Halal foods and another for toiletries such as soap, shampoo, toothpaste and feminine hygiene products.
The number of items clients can take from each section depends on the size of their household which is split into four categories: singles, couples, small families of three to five people, and large families of six or more people.
For example, a single person might only be permitted to take one bag of pasta, but a large family might be permitted to take four bags.
While all items are available to all clients, Khan explained that no one is forced to take something they don’t want, and sometimes exceptions are even made for those with dietary restrictions, allowing them to leave what they can’t eat and take more of what they can.
As an example, Khan said a vegetarian family was allowed to substitute more fresh produce in place of meat.
That’s part of the food bank’s philosophy of providing “dignified food access” to those in need, according to Khan.
“It’s not the old model of ‘if they’re hungry, they’ll eat it.’ That’s not a dignified way of accessing food,” she said, explaining clients can instead pick and choose what actually works for their family. “That’s dignified. That’s respectful.”
The food bank serves a diverse range of clients, and currently, about 52 per cent are newcomers to Canada within the last 10 years, according to Khan.
That sometimes comes with language barriers, so staff and volunteers use voice translation applications on their mobile phones to accommodate clients who don’t speak fluent English.
There are also unique challenges that come from cultural differences in food and diets.
“We have to look at what we’re offering and say: ‘Is this something useful to someone who’s new to Canada?’ ” Khan said. “We’re happy to do that for our newcomers because that is the food that they want.”
Upon arriving at the checkout, volunteers will check a client’s cart and may offer substitutions when available, which could mean providing a large family with one large bag of pasta, rice or lentils in place of multiple smaller bags, but could also include gluten-free items, or even ready-made items for those without access to cooking facilities.
The recent rush earlier this month coincided with the end of summer, which is typically the slowest time of year for donations, according to Wittig, but she said they still managed to make sure there was enough food for everyone.
“It comes down to the volunteers,” Wittig said.
Khan agreed.
“We have the absolute best volunteers around. They’re compassionate, dedicated and responsible,” she said.
The items currently most needed at the food bank include peanut butter, canned meats, pasta and sauce, as well as toilet paper and toiletries.
More information about the Helping Hand Food Bank and how it’s been serving the community since 1991 can be found at bradfordfoodbank.ca.
