The growing need for Food banks…

Food banks play a vital role in supporting individuals and families who struggle to access sufficient, nutritious food. Let me try and give you an overview of how foodbanks operate, who supports them, whether they are non-profit, and other relevant insights, including a look at Flemington’s food bank success.

I would like to dedicate this article to Sean Sherzady the founder and number one promoter of the Flemington Food Bank. The success story behind Shayne is that as a child he was very poor, and he and his family used food banks in the Flemington Park area and those days had a major impact on him. Once he made some money, he decided to launch the Flemington food bank with very little and today it feed thousands of families and individuals. Flemington, like many communities, has seen initiatives aimed at strengthening local food security. While specifics can vary by year and organization, this food bank has been successful only through hard work and persistence.

Through Sean’s contacts and business associates he has been very successful in recruiting volunteers and food product to distribute to those in need. He also took over for the Mirvish Family that would distribute turkeys for Christmas. Once the Mirvish family stopped doing the turkey run, Sean moved right in and duplicated the issuing of turkeys for Christmas. In interviewing Sean for this story and background, he was very straight with me and indicated how you cannot judge a book by its cover. In today’s economy, many folks and families have been hit by poverty and need to rely on food banks for help.

Food banks alleviate hunger by collecting, strong, and distributing food through a network of partners. They are typically non-profit organizations funded by donations, grants, and partnerships. Demand rises with economic pressures, housing insecurity, and health-related costs. Successful programs emphasize nutrition, client dignity, sustainability, and strong local collaboration. These food banks as Sean have told me is that you need to beg and ask for donations all year round. The stigma and accessibility to many of these centers is something that created a problem for many in the past, but today, through discreet access you would be surprised at who needs these food banks.

Many individuals and families work but still don’t earn enough to cover essentials like housing, utilities, and food. When money is tight, food is often the first thing people cut back on-so food banks provide a safety net. Housing, groceries, and fuel have increased in price faster than wages for many people. Food banks help people whose income no longer stretches far enough. Life events-job loss, illness, divorce, injury, or sudden bills-can quickly push otherwise stable people into food insecurity. Food banks provide temporary help during these crises. 

Food banks have also become community support and building pillars for many folks and families. Food banks give communities a way to take care of each other. Volunteers, donors, and organizations come together to support neighbors in need. I want to touch on volunteerism because this is the true strength of food banks and the main reason why they survive. Through volunteers the strength and reach is so important to the existence of these food banks and Flemington is a credit to the hard work and persistence. Again, food banks often rely heavily on volunteers because they don’t have funding to hire many paid staff. Volunteers handle tasks that would otherwise require a large payroll. On a personal note, l started with the Toronto Star food bank and Christmas gifts for children where visiting these homes opened my eyes and has an impact on my life. 

The personal impact that working with a food bank and volunteering my time is one of those gifts that l give myself. The feeling that l get leaving a home where l have left some food or gifts for children is so uplifting and gives me a sense of being alive. When l volunteer l never tell anyone, but sorting donated food, packing food parcels, stocking shelves, or serving people in need is such a joy. Running community kitchens, food banks without volunteers, these day-today operations would slow down or stop entirely if we did not have the unpaid help of volunteers.

I would like to reach out to anyone reading this article who can refer a supermarket, farm, and restaurants often have surplus food that would be thrown away. Food banks redistribute this perfectly good food to people who need it-reducing waste and hunger simultaneously. This simple request is something that we all come in touch with in one form or another and just calling a food bank and making a recommendation will go a long way. I will make it even easier for you, you can call Sean at the Flemington Food bank at 416-422-4322 and offer a suggestion or come out and volunteer if you can.

Without volunteers, most food banks wouldn’t have the people power, resources, or community support they need to feed families in need. If you can….donate, volunteer, give a helping hand, it will change your life.

Vincent Black/MS