Calls steadily increasing to food helpline, says Food First N.L.

A new food bank has opened in St. John's

3 years ago

Duration 2:01

The Newfoundland & Labrador Food Umbrella was the idea of Syed Pirzada as he saw the growing demand for food donations on the Island and wanted to help out.

Food First N.L.says itscommunity food helpline is ringing off the hook with a dramatic increase in calls from people who are hungry and need help.

Josh Smee,chief executive officerof the non-profit organization, said the helpline which guides people toward food programs near them and in some cases distributes gift cards receivesabout 300 to 350 calls in the summer months. In November, there were more than 500.

"The rate is steadily rising," Smee told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show.

"It's now quite a bit higher than when it was during the COVID lockdown in the early part of 2021, which is really something to see. It's significantly higher than then."

Smee said seniors have support from seniors' organizations, and those under 18 have support from dedicated youth organizations. He saidmany of Food First's calls are coming from peoplein the working population andsingle-parent families, or those who have dietary needs not being met by community food banks.

"The majority of folks tend to be in that demographic," he said.

"I think we hear a lot from folks who have been doing everything they can to help their families out. We do hear a lot from folks with kids."

Smee said it's been a challenge to stay on top of the calls, andthere's a backlog that has greatly increased, leaving resources "completely strapped."

Smee said the increase in calls is partly driven by funding dryingup for organizations thatstarted food programs during the pandemic, he said. Food prices are also shooting up, he said, at a time when the days grow colder andheating bills start to climb.

"I think we're seeing something that's going to persist, unfortunately. Food prices are sharply up [and]there's still some economic ramifications per households from COVID," he said.

"We have, at the same time, declining resources in the emergency systems and we haven't seen a lot of change in people's household finances."

Smee is encouraging people to give cash donations to their local food programs, and to email their MPsand MHAsto push for change.

Added help

Meanwhile, another organization is stepping in to lighten the load.

The Muslim Association of Newfoundland and Labradorlaunched a new food bank, called N.L. Food Umbrella, in the east end of St. John's on Wednesday, a project that had been in the works for a year.

"As we allknow, there's a dire need of providingquality food for people," saidpresident Syed Pirzada.

"It's been really difficult for, not just people in Newfoundland, but all over. So that gave us the idea that we should start a food bank."

Pirzadasaid the food bank's doors are open to anyone who needs help.

He said the road to getting registered with the federal governmentwas a challenge over the pandemic, but that's because there's plans to expand beyond offering help with just food.

Pirzada said he wants to help single mothers, develop a walk-in clinic with family physicians who can donatetheir time once a week and, as an organization,provide disaster relief for areas outside Canada.

"There is a huge need," he said. "We are in a great country, but the thing is still people are sleeping hungry, still people are having issues of how to put food on the table."

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