The Soup Kitchen, nestled in the heart of Victoria, British Columbia, has become an urgency-driven hub of activity, volunteers witnessing an unrelenting rise in the demand for free meals as of late.
At the height of an ordinary day, the numbers have surged from 130 to a significant 180, as shared by Vicki Marston whilst busying herself in prepping lunch bags during the past Thanksgiving Monday. The vital assistance provided by the kitchen is greeted with profound gratitude by those taking solace in its services.
Brian Scott, a recipient of the day’s complimentary lunch and coffee, expressed his heartfelt relief. “This is extremely important, and I’m pleased to the heavens that they’re here,” he vocalised.
Across the entire province and indeed, the entirety of the country, there has been a spike in demands at such food banks and soup kitchens, the driving factors being the rising food costs and the ever-growing scarcity of affordable housing. Both Vancouver and Victoria’s food banks have experienced a significant increment in their range of users.
“Locally, we’re seeing a number of new users – hundreds of new users a month,” commented Treska Watson, the guiding force behind the Mustard Seed food bank in Victoria, the largest food bank on Vancouver Island.
Surprisingly, the hike in demand isn’t restricted to the street dwellers alone. The middle-class families, even double-income homes, are also seeking assistance, marking an unsettling trend at the food banks.
In the Greater Vancouver Food Bank alone, they’ve registered nearly 2,000 clients since July, witnessing an increasing need across all ages, particularly among seniors. “That is the group that we are seeing grow probably the fastest, in terms of numbers,” pointed out Cynthia Boulter, the food bank’s chief operating officer.
The next challenge confronting these food banks is their ability to continue meeting this meteoric rise in demand. The final trimester of the year usually sees the peak of donations, but with many Canadians feeling the economic squeeze this year, there is a legitimate concern that donations might take a dive, all while the need keeps escalating.
