Every day in BC, 5,258 people visit food banks.  A further 5,000 people in BC receive meals from soup kitchens, shelters, and school lunch programs.  A third of food bank users are children.  Many are the working poor.

Here are the current social assistance rates in BC:

·       Single adult: $935/mo.

·       Adult couple: $1,427.22

·       Single parent: $1,270.58

·       Couple with 1 child: $1,611.06

 Ask yourself if these provide enough for shelter, food, clothing, and medical expenses.  NOPE. 

The average cost of a one-bedroom apartment in Vancouver is about $2,500/mo.  In Surrey it’s about $2,000/mo.  This means most people on welfare can’t afford rent.  If two adults try to share an apartment, Welfare will quickly deem them a “couple” and cut their payments.  Local food prices (on sale) are: pork shoulder $5/lb; chicken $3/lb; potatoes 40₵/lb; carrots $1/lb; oranges 50₵ each; bread (worst quality) $3/loaf; margarine $2.50/lb; Cheerios $6.50/kg; 2% milk $5.69/4 litres.  Beef: forget about it.

Most people on welfare want to work.  But employers are doing everything they can to install machines in place of workers.  Been to a grocery store?  See all those automatic check-out machines?  Each one is a job lost.  Funny, none of those stores has lowered their prices to account for those savings.

Every dollar you give a food bank will buy three dollars’ worth of food.  There are matching grants.  Food banks can buy in bulk, and time their purchases. 

Please DON’T donate food.  That can of tuna you drop at the grocery store’s Food Bank bin means ONE can of tuna, and adds the cost of transporting it, sorting it, shelving it.  Donating the price of a can of tuna means the Food Bank can buy three, get them delivered as part of a pallet full, and stock shelves once. 

Don’t buy those “food bank” tickets some stores have.  They give the money to the food bank, but the store chain claims the tax deduction.  From your money.  Especially, don’t buy those “food bank” bundles some grocers have.  Each one is selection of the worst quality of food imaginable.

Do donate money.  Money doesn’t spoil.  Money can be used to buy what the Food Bank needs: like fresh fruit and vegetables; like milk and bread; like baby formula and diapers.  Money doesn’t take up space to store.  And you’ll get a tax receipt every year.

How much should you donate?

Really, anything you can afford.  An easy number is to donate one hour’s worth of your time.  Every month.  If you have a credit card, put your donation on an automatic payment.  Get paid minimum wage?  Donate $16.75/mo.  I donate $500/mo.  The nice thing about using your card is that you don’t need to think about it.  And: You’ll get travel points or cash-back!

By making a monthly donation, you let the Food Bank plan their budget.  If they know they’re getting a certain amount each month from automatic donors, they can plan to buy when opportunities come up.

On 12 May, the Surrey Food Bank hosts its annual “Breakfast With the Bank” at the Riverside Signature Banquet Hall, 13030 76th Avenue.  It’s always an inspiring event. You can listen to a speech I gave at the Surrey Food Bank here.  You can sign up for the breakfast by calling 604.581.5443.  Take some friends.  It runs from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 a.m. SHARP. Or sleep in and make a donation online here.

If you want to donate to a different food bank, just google “food bank” and the name of your town or city.  The sad fact is that every place has a food bank.  

At Clear Legal, we have been helping others since 1990.  Sometimes with advice.  Sometimes with food.  We try to give what people need most.