Child hunger is a major concern in Canada as food prices soar

Tara Andrews states that the soaring food priceshave made it difficult to adequately support herself and her teens.

With the help of her food donations and her retired parents, a 49-year-old single mother has soared more than she can handle with a monthly income of $ 1,200. She says. She already has a month of her rent delinquency in May and she expects it to be the same in June.

"My grocery bills are almost doubled and I can get half the amount I used to. The more expensive ones, the less I can afford to buy. Is a direct relationship, "says Andrews from his home in Coquitlam, British Columbia.

Read more: Inflation in Canada reached 7.7% in May, supported by soaring gas prices and food prices.

This is a familiar story for various institutions dedicated to dealing with food insecurity. The head of a food bank in Canada states that many families with children are particularly volatile as school-based food programs weather.

Kirstin Beardsley states that about one-third of people who depend on Canadian food banks are children, up to 400,000 each month. Agencies say food bank usage is increasing among single-parent families.

"These are children who haven't had the opportunity to thrive, and it has long-term implications for the country," says Beardsley.

"You can't lose sight of the fact that a child can never be another, they can't redo this. This is their one chance and we are all. You need to make sure that you are giving them the opportunity they need to build the life they want. ”

This summer, Food Banks Canada wants to offer more summer food packs to its children. ~ 175,000_ Increased by 25,000 from last year and has exceeded the first pack of 700 in 2015 many times.

Trend Story

In Toronto, Our Daily Bread Food Bank managers also said that inflation has risen to nearly 40 years and demands for help have skyrocketed.

According to Neil Hetherington, his agency sees about 160,000 client visits per month, starting from about 120,000 per month in January. He states that modeling done by the organization at CIBC predicts 200,000 client visits per month in December.

He says counterparts across the country have told him about a similar surge, and many have reported a 20 to 30 percent surge in demand.

Many of these visitors have reached their limits over the years, but Heatherington has nailed a surge at the confluence of food, gas and housing soaring, and others. The method also says it sees new faces that have never turned to food charities. Costs and ongoing labor uncertainties in some sectors.

"We are looking at working individuals, but their salary can drive to their workplace They can't keep up with the costs they can, or they can feed their children. They're more and more worried about what they're looking at and (about) food they can put on the table. " Says.

Returning to British Columbia, Andrews says things would be even worse without a subsidy for a three-bedroom apartment that would reduce rent to $ 540 a month.

Read more: 72% of families with children are worried about the surge in food inflation: Ipsos Poll

But she says inflation pushed up the costs of gas and utilities, so the existing economic woes deepened during the pandemic and only worsened in 2022.

She also has a $ 150,000 school loan, but can only cover interest.

"I live in a house, so I'm luckier than some people. I have a subsidy, but I still have all the invoices to keep the house running. Then food on it. There is, "she says.

"I make enough to cover my bills and I can't really afford to buy food. That's what it really means."

© 2022TheCanadian Press