Sault foodbank brings back school lunch program
With a new school year fast approaching, St. Vincent Place in Sault Ste. Marie is accepting applications for its school lunch program.
This year’s program launch comes at a time when food banks are struggling to keep up with demand as food costs continue to increase due to inflation.
"We could really use donations in support of the Lunches for Learning program right now," said Sarah McCleary, the coordinator of the program.
"The non-perishables, definitely, folks could donate. Or they can make a monetary donation and just indicate that they want it go towards the program."
Meantime, Harvest Algoma’s 'Every Breakfast Counts' program is wrapping up for the summer. Officials there said it’s been busy.
"What we’re doing is great, but the fact that we need to feed a thousand kids a week is not so great," said Deron Barlow. "And we’d probably do more, but we have a budget and a limit on what we can actually service."
Officials at St. Vincent Place and Harvest Algoma said food bank usage has been steadily increasing as rising food costs are putting a squeeze on donations.
"The food bank usage has definitely gone up over the last several months over the previous five year average, it’s really not stopping," said McCleary.
"Donations have been slowing down, unfortunately, so they’re not really keeping up, but the client usage is going up."
Barlow said year-to-date totals at Harvest Algoma have already surpassed last year’s numbers.
"Last year, we had about 14,253 adults that were fed through us, and that was for the full year," he said.
"This year, it’s now Aug. 16 and we’re at 14,753. So our numbers have already gone up, and we’ve got another four months to go."
St. Vincent Place has capped participation in its Lunches for Learning program at 200 kids and spots are filling up fast. Those not part of the initial 200 will be put on a waiting list.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Canada, G7 urge 'all parties' to de-escalate in growing Mideast conflict
Canada called for 'all parties' to de-escalate rising tensions in the Mideast following an apparent Israeli drone attack against Iran overnight.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated J&J cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.