More people in Perth and area are turning to food banks as rising costs continue to put pressure on household budgets.
The Table Community Food Centre says visits to its Good Food Bank increased by 10 per cent during July and August. The organization is using Hunger Action Month in September to draw attention to the growing need and the reasons behind it.
Hunger Action Month is a provincewide campaign led by Feed Ontario and food banks across Ontario. It encourages people to learn more about food insecurity, support local food banks and push for longer-term solutions.
The Table Executive Director Rob Rainer says the problem is much closer to home than many people may realize.
Food insecurity can range from worrying about whether there will be enough food to regularly missing meals or being unable to afford nutritious options.
The Table says it is seeing more families, seniors and working-age adults seeking support. Good Food Bank Co-Lead Coral McMahan says staff are meeting people who never expected they would need a food bank.
Rainer says employment no longer guarantees a household can afford all of its basic needs.
The Table is joining Feed Ontario’s postcard campaign during Hunger Action Month, encouraging residents to raise food insecurity with municipal politicians and candidates ahead of Ontario’s Oct. 26 municipal election.
Residents can also use Feed Ontario’s Hunger in My Community tool to learn more about food insecurity where they live, or help through donations and volunteering.
