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
Several flight attendants from Pakistan have gone missing after landing in Canada
Multiple flight attendants from Pakistan International Airlines have abandoned their jobs and are believed to have sought asylum in Canada in the past year and a half, a spokesperson for the government-owned airline says.
BREAKING Ottawa public school board, 3 Toronto-area school boards launch lawsuit against social media giants
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board and three school boards in the Toronto-area have launched legal action against social media giants, accusing them of "disrupting students' fundamental right to education."
Doctors visiting a Gaza hospital are stunned by the war's toll on Palestinian children
An international team of doctors visiting a hospital in central Gaza was prepared for the worst. But the gruesome impact Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children still left them stunned.
Crypt near Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner could fetch US$400,000 at auction
A one-space mausoleum crypt in the vicinity of Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner will go on auction Saturday, when it is expected to reach between US$200,000 and $400,000.
This Toronto restaurant is no longer accepting tips. Here's how it's going
A Toronto restaurant introduced a surprising new rule that reduced the cost of a meal and raised the salaries of staff – tipping is no longer accepted.
A Nigerian woman reviewed some tomato puree online. Now she faces jail
A Nigerian woman who wrote an online review of a can of tomato puree is facing imprisonment after its manufacturer accused her of making a “malicious allegation” that damaged its business.
Premiers not being truthful about carbon tax, Trudeau says while sparks fly in Ottawa
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says Conservative premiers across the country are 'not telling the truth' when it comes to the carbon tax. Trudeau's comments came as fresh sparks were flying in Ottawa at a recalled House of Commons committee.
Far North police 'dispatch' polar bear stalking schoolyard
Police and local hunters in an Ontario Far North First Nation community have “dispatched” a polar that was showing abnormal behaviour and treating the area as a hunting ground.
What new auto insurance reforms will mean for Ontarians, if they get introduced
Ontario has among the highest rates for auto insurance premiums in Canada -- just below Alberta and Nova Scotia -- however, the introduction of an insurance reform in the provincial budget could soon lower prices.