“My Tummy Hurts”

“Sometimes my kids say ‘my tummy hurts,’” says Barbara. “Knowing they are hungry, and I can’t afford to feed them, makes me cry every day.”

Are you hungry? Have you eaten today? According to food banks Canada, 918,000 Canadians go hungry every summer.

When the last school bell rings and summer begins, hundreds of children from low-income households lose access to school breakfast and lunches they rely on during the school year. When school meals disappear it puts an extra strain on already-tight-budgets, which leads to more families turning to Salvation Army food banks for assistance.

Summer is a time of need and can be particularly difficult for people who are food insecure. When school is out, family grocery costs rise significantly. This makes it tough for low-income families to make ends meet. They often cut back on groceries to afford hydro and rent.

“We believe that the need for food banks is just as great, if not greater, during the summer months when children are not in school,” says Captain Jim Coggles of The Salvation Army in British Columbia.

Last year, Salvation Army food banks assisted closed to 1.1 million men, women and children. With the combination of slow summer donations and an ever-increasing demand, many Salvation Army centres are calling for donations.  

Anyone can help to eliminate hunger. The next time you run across a sale on items such as bread, tuna or peanut butter, why not grab a few and donate it to your local Salvation Army food bank?

Together, we can make a difference!