Port Hawkesbury Food Bank

Fall is upon us and so is the preparation for the Christmas season at the Food Bank. For several weeks we have been putting aside items which make good stocking stuffers or gifts such as hair products, soaps, candy, etc. The donations from the area Churches received on the last Sunday of each month are truly appreciated. Recently two of our volunteers gave a presentation to a community group in the West Bay area regarding the operation of the Food Bank. A week later a person who attended that session donated five hundred pounds of apples! Many groups during this season of the year are committing to donations to the Food Bank instead of having office parties or giving personal gifts.

Over the past year we have been encouraged to see some people who have had to use the Food Bank on occasion move into the work force. There are also those who are unable to do so and have to rely on social assistance for income which in most cases is inadequate to cover their expenses. Consider the case of a single person in a rural community who has just lost a job. We’ll call him Bob. Bob does not have enough hours to qualify for employment insurance and he only has a grade eleven education. If he qualified for social assistance and had no special circumstances he would receive $5,422.00 a year or $451.00 a month for rent, food and utilities, etc. The poverty line in 2005 was $17,895.00. To reach that he needs $12,473.00. So get a job Bob. If he got a job at minimum wage, the Department of Community Services would garnishee 70% of what he earns. If he worked thirty-five hours a week he would take home $4,000.00. All he has to do now is find another $8,000.00 to bring his income to the poverty line - he is caught in a poverty trap. The garnisheeing of income while on social assistance prevents many parents from entering the work force especially when child care is a factor to be considered.

From time to time we have people inquire about the operation of the Food Bank. We invite people who are interested to drop in on a Monday morning and see the crew hard at work and have a guided tour of the facility.

Thanks to all who help with this work and donate to the Food Bank.

Annabel Butts