With food insecurity continuing to impact families and individuals across Newmarket, the Real Canadian Superstore on Yonge Street is hosting its annual food drive until Dec. 24.
In Ontario, there’s been a 100.6 per cent increase in food bank use since 2019 and with reliance on food banks being at an all-time high, the Superstore will be collecting food or monetary donations in-store to help local families in need.
Newmarket Food Pantry executive director Adrian Bain says demand for the food bank’s services has never been greater.
This November was the food pantry’s busiest month on record, with 1,969 individuals accessing its service. Bain says that’s a usage increase of 68 per cent from just two years ago.
This year, the food pantry has fed 20,000 clients within 7,200 households and served 500,000 meals. And the number of children utilizing the food pantry has skyrocketed to above 30 per cent, Bain said.
Bain said the food pantry is also seeing children, seniors, and working families use its services more than ever, with one in six clients in the workforce.
“Two-thirds of food bank visitors have less than $100 left each month after paying for housing costs,” he said. “These numbers are not sustainable.”
Utilization of the food pantry typically goes up around the holidays, Bain said, but food bank usage in Newmarket and surrounding communities continues to go up each year due to economic uncertainty.
With the current state of society, he said usage is steadily rising and it basically means utilization of the food bank is always up.
That’s why fundraisers like this around the holiday season are so important, said Bain, and he’s thankful the community has been so supportive.
He said Newmarket is a very special community and that there is a true sense of altruism and that residents want to help those without asking for anything in return.
“The beautiful part of this concept, however, is the benefits that it brings,” Bain said. “Giving back not only creates a better community for all of us, but the individual benefits of feeling connected, a sense of pride and accomplishment, belonging and purpose, and just being happier, ultimately creating a better world for all of us and future generations.”
Currently the most needed items at the food pantry include monetary donations, school snacks, baked beans, canned pasta, pasta sauce, canned proteins, and personal hygiene products.
“Monetary donations are crucial to allow us to purchase perishable and nutritious food options,” he said.
Donations to Real Canadian Superstore’s annual holiday food drive will go directly to the Newmarket Food Pantry. Donate and learn more about the food pantry here.
