Wealthy Winnipeg street is home to a food bank

It's one of Winnipeg's swankiest streets, lined with large houses and home to prestigious families. But on Thursday mornings, Wellington Crescent is also home to a busy food bank at the First Unitarian Universalist Church.

"The lineups here are crazy," said 25-year-old Elizabeth Balan. "You have to be here by 7:30 in the morning because there's always about 30 people lined up outside."

Everyone here pulls their own weight.- Brian Klowak, food bank co-ordinator

Balan started using the food bank when she had her first baby two years ago. She travels from the William Whyte neighbourhood hours before the food is distributed, in the hopes of getting the widest choice of food for her two young children. Her boyfriend works in construction but the family still depends on the food bank to get by.

"It's helped me drastically," said Balan, a self-described penny pincher. "The formula and the milk are the main reasons why I come."

Winnipeg Harvest spends $200,000 a year on baby formula, and 42 per cent of people using Manitoba's food banks are children.

Food banks also distribute six diapers in a Ziploc bag to clients. On this Thursday morning, there were none that could fit Balan's 10-month-old son.

Giving back

"Truck is here," someone shouted.

The doors of the church swung open and immediately clients started lining up to help unload pallets of food. Balan went back over and over to help get the food inside.

"I always try and help because it gives back," she said.

Unable to lift and carry pallets, Ken Edwards sorted cans and bags potatoes in order to do his part. He injured his back in a slip and fall at work and said he was laid off after completing rehab for the injury. Now the single father of three depends on the food bank.

"I still buy groceries, but it [the food bank] helps out when you've got growing teenagers," Edwards said.

"Everyone here pulls their own weight," said food bank co-ordinator Brian Klowak.

Klowak took over from the food bank's founder, June Gislason, who died last year.

He said Gislason wanted to break down the barriers between the people who use the food bank and the people who run it.

Clients are encouraged to help in any way they can, and the food distribution is set up like a shopping experience, where people choose their food.

"It's like a little grocery store," said Mackenzie Gray, a Grade 9 student from St Mary's Academy who was staffing the bread aisle with classmate Ryleigh Anderson.

Each week, different students are chosen to come and help at the food bank.

"It's an opportunity for them to be involved in the community, " says campus minister Joanne Steeves. "I think a lot of them are surprised when they see families and how much need there is."

At the end of her visit to the food bank, Balan is pleased that she has raspberries and watermelon in one of her bags.

"That's fruit for my kids," she said.

But she doesn't expect the food to last long in her home with her growing young sons.

"The raspberries will be gone today."