Food Bank Society of Yukon calls on political parties to reduce food insecurity as demand grows

The Food Bank Society of the Yukon has joined Food Banks Canada in calling on political parties to reduce food insecurity in Canada by 50 per cent by 2030.

"I think food security has taken a back burner in this election and it's a really important topic that we need to bring to the forefront," said Dave Blottner, executive director of the Food Bank Society of the Yukon.

Last month, the Yukon food bank fed 1,957 Yukoners last month, an increase of 67 people from the month before. One in 20 people in territory rely on the food bank, according to the society. 

Those latest numbers come as food insecurity grows across Canada. According to Food Banks Canada, almost one quarter of Canadians are food insecure.

"People have a concept of what a food bank user looks like, that they're some kind of Dickensian orphan," Blottner said. "That's not the case, these are folks that have found the cost of living, the cost of rent, the cost of gas, the cost of everything is just too much right now and they need that little bit of extra help to get through."

Demand across Canada is so high at food banks right now that many clients are being turned away because there isn't enough food for them, said Blottner. 

"Over 30 per cent of food banks across the country have had to say no to folks when they came in. They ran out of food before they could meet demand," said Blottner. "Thankfully here in the Yukon, I live in the most generous community in Canada and we haven't had to say no yet but it's an unsustainable bell curve we're working up towards."

Judy Pakozdy is a long time volunteer at the Yukon food bank. She's also a longtime Yukoner.

Pakozdy understands what it's like to struggle to make ends meet. She currently has no fixed address and has been couch surfing so she can help financially support her adult son in B.C. who has FASD.

Pakozdy does a bit of everything at the food bank.

When she's not greeting clients at the front desk, she stocks shelves.

Another priority for her is ensuring everyone gets access to what she calls the "good stuff" — items like eggs, bread, and cake mix.

"We always give everybody a cake mix on their birthday," said Pakozdy. "Parents just love it, they're so glad their kid will have a birthday party this year."

We never used to store food up to the rafters- David Whiteside, Food Bank volunteer

David Whiteside is another longtime volunteer at the food bank. He says in his 14 years he's never seen the need so high.

"We never used to store food all the way up to the rafters," said Whiteside. "We did not have our warehouse manager getting his head clipped by a ceiling fan while he's storing boxes on top of the freezer."

Whiteside, a former teacher at Whitehorse Elementary School, recalls bringing food donations to the food bank by sled with his students.

"We brought it over on toboggan, it was so much fun."

Whiteside says a sled of food doesn't cut it these days.

"A sled of food used to matter much more," said Whiteside. "A skid of food is how we are working now."

Blottner says until the root cause of food security is addressed, reliance on food banks in Canada will only grow.

"Since 2019 food costs in the Yukon have gone up 78 to 100 per cent depending on the items in the grocery store," said Blottner. "That's hundreds of dollars a week extra that people are paying in the grocery store."

Blottner says the best way to support the food bank is with a cash donation.