Did You Know…

• Did you know that food has become an unaffordable luxury for some people in your community?
• Did you know that struggling parents skip meals regularly in order to feed their children?
• Did you know that fresh fruits and vegetables and a glass of milk are simply not available to many children?
• Did you know that some families and senior citizens are forced to choose between buying expensive prescription medications and food to eat?
• Did you know that some people are disabled and not capable of working full time or at all and go hungry because of it? Other parents are unable to work in order to care for a physically or developmentally disabled child.
• Did you know that some parents are not able to afford the expensive yet necessary staples for their babies and young children, such as formula, pablum and diapers?

Food Bank Facts

1. The first food bank in Canada opened in 1981. Today there are over 630 food banks across the country and an additional 2000 agencies helping hungry people nationwide.
2. Close to 800,000 Canadians turn to a food bank for emergency food supplies each month.
3. Agencies serviced by food banks serve 2.1 million meals every month.
4. More than 40% of food recipients are children.
5. Almost 60% of households accessing food banks are families with children.
6. More than 1.2 million hours of labour, including 800,000 + volunteer hours, contribute to the operation of food banks every month.
7. The Canadian Association of Food Banks represents food banks that serve 90% of the people receiving emergency food assistance.
8. Most food bank recipients receive social assistance, disability income or other income support such as Employment Insurance. Many others are the working poor. Some have no income at all. Food banks are not found just in urban centres - 270 food banks, in cooperation with 40 different social agencies, operate in communities of less than 10,000 people.
9. Many food banks give more than just food - people in need often require advocacy services regarding landlord-tenant issues, income assistance applications, training programs, etc.
10. Most food banks provide a three to four day supply of groceries and limit requests for assistance to once per month.
    

Q. Are you really giving food to 13,000 people a month?
A. Yes! Actually 13,000 is an extremely conservative number. From August, 2003 to July, 2004 we gave out 57,145 hampers. We also assist a number of different recovery houses, shelters, soup kitchens and meal programs in Surrey and North Delta.

Q. Can anyone come to the Surrey Food Bank?
A. No. People who come to the Surrey Food Bank are required to register with us the first time they visit and then update every six months if they are still requiring assistance. Every client is required to present:

1. Proof of address. The Surrey Food Bank provides services to citizens of Surrey and North Delta only.
2. BC Care cards for every member of the household. This is our primary tracking tool and helps to prevent duplication and fraudulent use of our services.
3. Proof of income . A client MUST be low income in order to receive a hamper.
4. Picture ID

Clients at the Surrey Food Bank are able to receive a hamper once every 14 days.

Q. Isn't the food bank just a crutch?
A. By coming to the Surrey Food Bank, people are helping themselves.  The small amount of food we provide (about 3-4 days worth of food in a 14-day period) allows them to free up dollars in their meager budgets for other living expenses like transportation, clothing and extra school costs for their children.  45% of our clients are children and babies.

Q. Why don't "these people"… get a job… stop smoking… quit drinking … manage their money better?
A. We are not a judging organization. Children do not choose to be born into poverty or to parents that compromise their health and safety. We address the immediate need of helping people feed themselves and their families. Our food security programs address the bigger picture issue of "helping people help themselves" over the long term.

Q. Aren't you part of the problem?
A. No, we are part of the solution. The Surrey Food Bank is not a last stop but a first step to getting back on your feet again. Most of our clients only need our assistance for a short of period of time. We are here to help.

Q. My neighbour's cousin's wife goes to the food bank and she definitely is not "low income".
A. If there is even a 2% misuse rate, that still means that 98% of our clients are legitimately in need. Why punish them for the mistakes of a few?  And, are you sure she is not low-income?  She might be too ashamed to let people see the reality of her situation.  She may also have lost her job and is struggling with a mountain of debt.  We do require all of our clients to show proof of low income in order to come to the food bank.