Partners in Thunder Bay, Ont., launch campaign to help meet summer food demands
Fewer, cheaper donations being given to food banks amid cost of living, tariff concerns
While people are often reminded about food drives around Thanksgiving and the winter holidays, Volker Kromm said the need for donations is especially high when school's out for the summer.
"The demand is up because people are home," said Kromm, executive director of the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) in Thunder Bay, Ont. "We want to stock the shelves."
But with the increasing cost of living and concerns about U.S. tariffs raising prices even higher, "there's a general tightening of the waist-belt that is happening out there, and I think it's also the interpretation of what's to come."
"They give, but less is coming in — and also the type of food [that] is coming in. If they're donating, they're donating the less expensive items, and so we're struggling trying to match demand with what's coming in," Kromm explained.
On Friday, the RFDA launched its Stronger Together 2.0 campaign alongside the United Way of Thunder Bay in hopes of raising awareness about year-round food insecurity and boosting food bank stock across northwestern Ontario.
All donations made through the United Way are being matched dollar for dollar.
"It's important that we get the community behind this because we realized many years ago, we can't do this by ourselves," said Kromm. "We have to reach out and ask people for their help, whether it be a food drive or fund matching or something."
'We can only give what we get'
It cost just under $1,200 a month to feed a family of four in the Thunder Bay district last year and more than $1,500 a month for a family of four in the Northwestern Health Unit's catchment area, according to the latest Cost of Eating Well reports.
However, with rising food prices and fewer donations coming in, Kromm said, "we can only give what we get or we can purchase."
"We would like to meet the health requirements of the individuals that ask for help with their allergies and their nutrient requirements, but it is one of those points."
The RFDA provides food to 37 partner organizations and 47 First Nations across the region, all of which will benefit from donations made through Stronger Together 2.0, he said.
In the summer, food banks and cooling centres are seeing more requests for donations of water bottles, as well as cereal, peanut butter and fruit cups for children at home.
Families are also looking for children's clothes to prepare for the new school year in the fall, Kromm added.
"That puts an extra demand on our family budget."
For those who aren't in a position to donate, Kromm said organizations are always in need of volunteers. People can also assist by spreading awareness through social media.
Stronger Together 2.0 runs until Sept. 12. The United Way of Thunder Bay is also involved in a campaign called Period Promise, which is collecting menstrual product donations at the Shoppers Drug Mart at 640 River St. until Friday.
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