28 replies to this topic

[Victoria Watcher]

Jamie Sarkonak: When your food bank donations subsidize fraud and video games

 

Food banks are struggling, but it's hard to feel charitable when some people treat them like an immigration perk

 

https://nationalpost...content=comment

 

But it seems that food banks have largely been working to make themselves more exploitable. From website FAQs to media interviews about increased strain, many appear to assume that every single person accessing their services is in need.

 

Last week, CTV News reported on a report showing that the number of food bank users has nearly doubled; those interviewed blamed the rising cost of living — which is no doubt a large factor. And news outlets across the country covered the annual hunger report from Food Banks Canada, gasping at the skyrocketing usage figures.

 

That report’s findings correlated roughly with the rise of free food videos: among newcomers who have been here for less than 10 years, 34 per cent are using food banks — but back in 2019, that figure was 13 per cent. In addition to that, one-fifth of food bank users have a job, according to the report’s methodology.

 

What the report didn’t include were figures that could restore confidence in their institutions. What proportion of food banks have family income requirements for eligibility? How many serve international students? What steps were taken in the past year to stop bad actors from taking what they shouldn’t? The odd food bank here and there has announced restrictions on international students, but there’s no collective voice being used to instill confidence in food banks as a whole.

 

And while some food banks are reducing access for all clients as a means of rationing what little they have, they’re dealing with fewer donations. The Central Okanagan Food Bank in B.C. pleaded to the news last week about it, as did a food bank in Victoria; they didn’t explain how they were preventing abuse, though. On the other side of the country, Nova Scotia’s food banks are seeing donations drop — but if that food bank tour video is representative of everywhere else in the province, you can see why.

 

 

 

 

 

New food bank for veterans and first responders opens in Langford

https://cheknews.ca/...ngford-1296089/

 

 

 

^ It's a 25 to 38-minute walk from any bus stop.   And near no residential.  Do many people with cars need to use a food bank?

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 20 December 2025 - 06:05 AM.

[Beacon]

also related to your car question, is 5 years ago we would have a random person with a shopping cart going through the bluebins on the street, then came those with ebikes and now I literally see people with nice new SUVs with maps going on their nav systems to pick up all the cans in the blue boxes on recycle days.  Binning has gone upstream in the last 5 years.

[Matt R.]

There are definitely folks who would rather hit the food bank than work regular hours. Ask me how I know.

[Beacon]

There are definitely folks who would rather hit the food bank than work regular hours. Ask me how I know.

 

It'll also make the social assistance cheque stretch further if it's all spent on day one on pizza and drugs too

Edited by Beacon, 20 December 2025 - 01:44 PM.

[LJ]

Before there were food banks I never noticed starving people dying in the streets.

 

I'm sure there are some needy folks who they help out but my gut feeling is people are using food banks so that they can spend their own funds on "nice to have" things.

 

I don't support them.

[Victoria Watcher]

Before there were food banks I never noticed starving people dying in the streets.

 

I'm sure there are some needy folks who they help out but my gut feeling is people are using food banks so that they can spend their own funds on "nice to have" things.

 

I don't support them.

 

Terribly inefficient too.

[Victoria Watcher]

Demand soars for Island food banks, including among two-income families

 

 

 

The manager of Lake Cowichan’s food bank says it’s seeing at least 30 more families seeking help with groceries this year over last, and a surprising number of them are double-income households.

 

Cindy Vaast, who serves as operations and hamper co-ordinator as well as vice-president of the food bank’s board, said the number of two-parent working families coming for help is concerning.

 

“They don’t need to use it all the time, but they know we are there when things are stretched too far,” said Vaast.

 

It’s a trend reported across the country — Food Banks Canada reports that 23 per cent of those accessing food banks are two-parent families with children, compared with 19 per cent in 2019.

 

While Vaast said that while the food bank determines need by asking families about their economic status, they aren’t invasive in their inquiries. “If you say you need it, you need it,” she said, adding that some people come well before food-hamper distribution opens so that they can visit with others.

 

 

 

https://www.timescol...milies-11658900

 

 

While Vaast said that while the food bank determines need by asking families about their economic status, they aren’t invasive in their inquiries. “If you say you need it, you need it,” she said

 

 

^ That is such a terrible policy.  Even if I thought food banks were a good idea, I would never donate to one with such a policy.  Those that are not truly in need are taking from those that are.

[Victoria Watcher]

Pam Wright, chair of the (Pender Island food bank) volunteer working board, says demand has grown “significantly” over the past few years, but the food bank saw a “really big jump” in the last three months.

 

The number of users has grown from 25 individuals or families a week a few years ago to around 50 or 60 in the last six months. Last week, it saw 92.

 

“Most people who normally see us every once in a while are needing to see us more frequently,” said Wright, citing “ridiculously” high rents and food prices.

 

Wright said the food bank is also seeing a lot of clients who are “underhoused” — living on boats in the harbour or camping out due to the high cost of living.

 

The food bank is open to any Penderite in need — “no questions asked.”

[Mike K.]

I haven’t been to Costco in quite some time. Last night I went, and oh my god, the number of opened food items with removed packages of food (like one baggie out of a box of several) and items randomly strewn about with some contents removed was shocking. Was it just one group or person? Or is that a thing now?

[Victoria Watcher]

The number of users has grown from 25 individuals or families a week a few years ago to around 50 or 60 in the last six months. Last week, it saw 92.

 

The food bank is open to any Penderite in need — “no questions asked.”

 

The non-denominational society is open Fridays from 9 a.m. to noon in the back of the St. Peters’ Anglican Church hall, 4703 Canal Rd.

 

Pender population:  About 2,500

 

Sooke Food Bank Society

 

Sooke region residents in need can access the Sooke Food Bank, which offers one food hamper per month, plus other household supplies.

 

The charity serves about 90 families each month from East Sooke to Port Renfrew, “with enrolment rising faster than ever before.”

 

"Questions asked":

 

 

The food bank encourages people to check out its website to learn how to register and what to bring to the Sooke Community Hall, 2037 Shields Rd.

 

Sooke population:  Over 15,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“We’re a food bank. We’re not a free grocery store. If you’re not screening your clients, I’m sorry, people are going to start taking advantage of you,” Marten said.

 

“If you can get $200 worth of groceries at a food bank, which our clients are walking out with, why would you go to a grocery store and buy it?”

 

Marten said some people trying to register for the food bank cite a lack of money, but he finds out during the interview process that they recently bought luxury vehicles or have pricey cellphone plans.

 

“To me, buying a brand new pickup truck is not a legitimate expense,” Marten said, adding that he still enrols people who need immediate help, but also offers financial counselling.

 

“We work with them and put a plan together” to get them out of debt, he said.

 

“As long as they make the payments, we let them come here till they get out of a bind. I want to empower people, not just enable people.”

 

Such situations are the exception, Marten added, noting that most of the 120 people who use the Caring Cupboard “have been here for years,” while Ukrainian refugees and international students have been among the newer faces.

 

Means testing, he said, reassures donors that their dollars — and the food donated by local grocery stores and farms — are helping those in direst need. To Marten, food banks that serve anyone who turns up — no questions asked — fail the accountability test.

 

“You’re feeding the wrong people, and you’re hurting the ones who really need it,” he said.

 

 

https://www.brantfor...means-testing-2

Edited by Victoria Watcher, 23 December 2025 - 06:41 AM.

[Mike K.]

Sooke population: Over 15,000

That’s just Sooke-proper, and as of the 2021 census. Sooke-proper now is 17,000-plus, and then on top of that you have another 5,000 to 6,000 in East Sooke through Renfrew.

[Matt R.]

I haven’t been to Costco in quite some time. Last night I went, and oh my god, the number of opened food items with removed packages of food (like one baggie out of a box of several) and items randomly strewn about with some contents removed was shocking. Was it just one group or person? Or is that a thing now?

That’s weird. Is it just theft? I can’t imagine what the punishment would be if caught stealing at Costco…

[Mike K.]

There were open boxes everywhere, dude. Like dozens of opened food items. Even a giant bag of chips opened in the back lane. I’ve never seen anything like it.

[Matt R.]

Oh you mean the product actually open, I thought you meant someone taking one pack of something out of a 3 pack.

That really doesn’t make any sense, probably a TikTok trend. I blame TikTok for everything now that I’m old.

[Mike K.]

That’s what people were suggesting, matter of fact.

Costco should make them Tik Tok stars.

[Matt R.]

Whenever I see the zoomers doing something stupid I assume it’s for clicks on TikTok. lol.

[Mike K.]

Zoomers?

[Matt R.]

Right?

[lanforod]

Is that the nickname we're going with for Gen-Z?

[Matt R.]

I think so yes.