Non-profits dip into cash, as Dominion gift cards mostly nullified by strike

Some non-profit organizations in St. John'sare scrambling tomeet their clients' nutrition needs, as the Dominion gift cards normally handed out have been rendered temporarily largelyuseless by a strike.

Since the pandemic hit, federal funding programs and donations by Dominion's parent company Loblawhave been providing its gift cards to food banks and other related charities, such as the Jimmy Pratt Foundationin St. John's, which has been using $500 gift cards to fund a program that feeds families with young children.

"We had to actually dig into cash funding, now, and that'll be a few thousand dollars for each month," said Robyn Legrow, the foundation's executive director.

"It's putting us in a position where we have to dig into our cash reserves, and with a second wave coming, we don't even know what's about to unfold over the next few months."

Bridges to Hope, which operates a food pantry program in the city,is similarly scrambling. Manager Jody Williamssaid the gift cards have been handed out to all its clients in the last three months along with non-perishable food hampers, so people can supplement fresh milk, meat and produce.

"I'min a bit of a bind here right now, in real time," Williams told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show on Tuesday.

Loblaw told CBC in a statement Wednesday the gift cards can still be redeemed at the province's three No Frills locations, in Mount Pearl, Clarenville and Marystown. Cards can also be redeemed at Atlantic Wholesale Club in St. John's, and at the province's four Your Independent Grocer locations in Catalina, Gambo, Lewisporte and Twillingate.

• Dominion strike results in temporary closure of 5 NLC stores

• Dominion workers strike after tentative deal rejected

About 1,400 Dominion workers in Newfoundland have been on strike since Saturday night, closing all of its11 locations across the islandafter rejecting a tentative agreement with their employer. The workers want part-time positions restored to full-time ones, as more than 80 per cent of their workforce are part-time employees.

Food supplies low

In a statement, Loblaw told CBCNews it would be working with local food banks and organizations to make sure perishable food on store shelves will be used. The workers' union has offered to help in that transaction, but Loblaw said that would not be needed.

The Jimmy Pratt Foundation has no capability to store food, said LeGrow, and wouldn't be able to avail of that offer and such food donations aren't the preferred methods for keeping their clients fed anyway.

"It's hard enough for someone to call in and ask for help with food. It's worse when you're actually told what you're going to receive and half of it's not useful to you. We like to be able to give our clients more freedom to be able to make their own choices about what they're going to eat, as opposed to being told what they'll eat," she said.

Food donations and food drives have dropped off since the pandemic hit Bridges to Hope, leaving their stocks bare.

"We don't really have food, currently, like we normally do. We are in a bind," said Williams.

Neither Williams nor LeGrow are certain of their next steps, although LeGrow notes that some of the faces on the picket line are familiar to her.

"The irony of this situation though, is the people who access my services are people like the workers of Dominion who are now stuck without pay," she said.

Loblaw said in its statement it will not reopen its Newfoundland locations during the strike. Its pharmacies remain open.

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