In an affluent society like ours, people don’t want to have to seek food assistance. For many Canadian’s experiencing difficulty, it’s humiliating and they only do it when they are absolutely desperate. They park their dignity—their pride—at the door to get food. Read the full story

Donations at food banks on Prince Edward Island have hit new lows, organizers say.

Demand at the Summerside Salvation Army has spiked while donations have decreased,

The Salvation Army is the main food bank for Prince Edward Island’s second largest city.

“We are in an emergency situation at this time,” said Marj Montgomery, food bank coordinator.

She said donations are typically down at this time of year, but she has never seen provisions this low.

“I was just in the food bank a few minutes ago looking at the shelves and the shelves are really bare,” said Major Willis Drover, the Salvation Army’s core officer. “We need just about everything right now.”

Drover said he estimates a 40 to 50 per cent increase in the number of clients using the food bank over the past year.

The number of people accessing the food bank has been on the rise since the economic downturn began in 2008, Montgomery said.

The drop in donations has meant the Salvation Army has had to cut the number of items in each hamper they hand out.

“Our hampers have gone down drastically as to what’s in them,” Montgomery said, “because we don’t have the food to put in.”

Organizers say a food drive is planned in a few weeks. Until then, Montgomery said they will use cash donations to purchase food.

“When we have to make our clients go without, I have a real sympathy for them,” she said.

“We need more angels.”

Source: CBC

In photo, from left to right, Marcello Piane, District Manager, Loblaw’s (Toronto), Garfield Mitchell, Director, The W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Territorial Commander, Commissioner William Francis and Chief Secretary, Lt. Colonel Don Copple

Toronto, Thursday November 5, 2009 – The W. Garfield Weston Foundation has donated $540,000 to The Salvation Army in an effort to assist with the dramatic increase in demand for assistance, particularly for its food bank and meal programs. This is part of a one-time $1.8 million grant program launched by the Foundation to support the efforts of over 150 programs run by registered charities. These programs provide the necessities of life to families affected by the current economic downturn.

Twenty-five (25) Salvation Army offices, from British Columbia to Prince Edward Island, have been awarded grants to restock their food banks, introduce new community kitchen programs, upgrade kitchen facilities and expand feeding programs for the homeless, the working poor and seniors who are living on a fixed income. Funds also have been provided for school breakfast programs as well as emergency clothing and shelter.

“The Salvation Army is well known to be one of the most effective organizations in delivering assistance to people in need across Canada. The Weston family and The W. Garfield Weston Foundation are delighted to continue their long history of support for The Salvation Army by making a significant commitment to its vital and hope-giving work” says Garfield Mitchell, Director of the Foundation.

“With demand for food assistance increasing between 10-40% across the country, this generous gift from the Foundation could not have come at a more opportune time, particularly as we enter the Christmas Season” says Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary, for Public Relations and Development of The Salvation Army. “We are most grateful for the continued generosity of the Weston family and the Foundation”.

The Weston family controls George Weston Limited which, today, includes not only the family’s original baking company, but also Loblaw Companies Limited, a group of food retailing, processing and distribution companies, including the No Frills franchise.

About The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 118 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, provides shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction.

When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

- 30 -

News releases, articles and updated information can be found at www.SalvationArmy.ca

For further information please contact:

Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org
www.SalvationArmy.ca

The recession has hit many businesses hard, but it’s been an unwanted boon for one operation.

The Salvation Army has experienced a 26 per cent hike in demand at its Vernon food bank so far this year, and 47 per cent at its Enderby facility.

“Not too many people have seen a 26 per cent wage increase and we haven’t raised 26 per cent more,” said David MacBain, community ministries director. Read full story…

Source: BCLocalNews.com

Toronto, ON October 7, 2009 – A troubling new report released today by The Salvation Army indicates that a majority of their food banks and feeding programs, 40 percent of those surveyed, saw a decline in donations in the last 12 months; while three-quarters of food centres indicated that they saw demand for food services increase. Additionally, a majority of respondents, 60 percent, said that their food shelves were either ‘half-full’ or at a ‘low’ or ‘dangerously low’ level.

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

Restocking the Shelves Radio PSA

During the Thanksgiving season, The Salvation Army is increasing its efforts to restock and resupply, calling on Canadians for food items and in-kind donations that will support the nation’s neediest.

“Thanksgiving is one of our busiest periods for food service and distribution,” said Graham Moore, Territorial Secretary for Public Relations and Development with The Salvation Army. “We remain committed to serving Canadians in need with warm meals and groceries, but we also need the public’s commitment to help meet this year’s heightened demand.”

The report, “Restocking the Shelves,” releases survey results collected from 139 different Salvation Army officers and employees across Canada. Additional data collected by The Salvation Army, demonstrates that the need has never been greater.Year-over-year data shows that The Salvation Army served approximately 25,000 more people and 65,000 additional meals in the first quarter of 2009 as compared to the first quarter of 2008. Even as some signs indicate that Canada is now emerging from a global economic recession, more people than ever are relying on social service agencies, like The Salvation Army, to meet their most basic needs.

The “Restocking the Shelves” report is the first-time that The Salvation Army has released statistics and data from its national network of food centres and programs. The survey and subsequent report were conducted as a result of individual accounts that pantry levels were alarmingly low this year. A spike in demand coupled by an overall drop in supplies has led to a downward trend that has left many shelves empty this fall.

“As a national trend, it appears that our food services and programs are taking a hit from the prolonged effects of the recession,” said Graham Moore. “We’ll continue to do more with less, hopeful that the generosity of donors and volunteers will answer the needs of those shaken by economic hardship.”

The Salvation Army is the nation’s largest provider of direct non-governmental social service, serving 2.6 million meals last year alone. The public is encouraged to donate food items, make in-kind donations or volunteer their time at a The Salvation Army centre.

The detailed findings from “Restocking the Shelves” are available online www.SalvationArmy.ca.

About The Salvation Army:
The Salvation Army is an international Christian organization that began its work in Canada in 1882 and has grown to become the largest non-governmental direct provider of social services in the country. The Salvation Army gives hope and support to vulnerable people today and everyday in 400 communities across Canada and 118 countries around the world. The Salvation Army offers practical assistance for children and families, often tending to the basic necessities of life, providing shelter for homeless people and rehabilitation for people who have lost control of their lives to an addiction. When you give to The Salvation Army, you are investing in the future of marginalized and overlooked people in your community.

For further information please contact:
Andrew Burditt
Territorial Public Relations Director
The Salvation Army
416-845-8231
andrew_burditt@can.salvationarmy.org
www.SalvationArmy.ca

Hunger is a growing problem in Canada. Raw data recently collected by The Salvation Army shows the need for food banks and feeding programs to be greater than ever. Read the full story

Demand at the local food bank spiked 68% last month, leading the head of the Salvation Army to declare the facility to be in crisis.

“I would say we’re in crisis, we’re managing, but it’s definitely day to day,” Capt. Colin Bain of the Owen Sound Salvation Army said yesterday.

“We were watching food banks elsewhere in the country hit crisis mode earlier in the year, in February and March, but it’s only reached us now. When people start to get desperate, they start coming to us.” Read full story…

Source: The Sun Times

London – There was a time when the food bank shelves at the Salvation Army’s Centre of Hope were full with donated items ready to be sent out to those in need across the community.

These days, those shelves are a lot less full because not only are donations harder to come by, but also the demand for help has skyrocketed over the past year. Read full story…

Source: The Londoner

The Hamilton Salvation Army is pleading for help because of a 30 per cent increase in people asking the agency for food.

The cupboard is bare because rising need in the city has left food supplies dangerously low, says Major Ken Percy.

The Hamilton Salvation Army is pleading for help because of a 30 per cent increase in people asking the agency for food at a time when donations have slumped. Read full story…

Source: TheSpec.com