While the Six Nations Food Bank says it’s ready to help clients have a Christmas meal this year, it’s the time after Christmas that many people still need help with. “After Christmas, people still need to eat,” says SN Food Bank Chair Mary Monture. She said the food bank is truly grateful for all the donations it’s received from community members and organizations this year, which is how it is able to operate and feed the community, since they don’t have a regular funding source.
The food bank regularly serves around 250 to 300 people weekly depending on the time of year, she says. The weeks following Christmas can often be tough because clients got their government cheques early, spent them on Christmas expenses and food, and are often left without much to see them through the weeks after Christmas. Kids are still home from school until the new year and need to eat, says Monture.
In the past year, the Six Nations Food Bank served 20,151 people altogether. The food bank also gives out 150 senior bags twice a year, as well as kids’ bags about once a month, as add-ons to their regular weekly food pickups. The senior bags contain things like toiletries and household items while the kids’ bags have snacks and other goodies that younger people would enjoy. “It’s just extra treats,” said Monture. “If we can do that monthly, we try to. There are some months that doesn’t happen.”
Monture said it cost the food bank $250,000 to feed the community this year. That expense is going to go up, she said, as grocery prices continue to rise. One thing that she’s pleased to see this year is seniors getting out and hitting up all the community celebrations offering Christmas dinners and holiday meals. Not only does it feed seniors, but it also gets them out socializing.
The food bank applies to the Six Nations Community Trust for some of its funding, and got $100,000 from the organization this year to run its operations. “They have been generous in the past,” said Monture. Other than that, they have no regular funding. “Council does not fund us. A lot of people assume council backs us but they do not.”
She said she’s not sure if they’ll be approved for funding from the community trust for next year and she’s getting a little anxious about that, but if not, they’ll be out there seeking donations to continue its activities. “We’ve been really lucky,” said Monture. “Donations have been very very good this year. We’ll be good for Christmas. We have enough to get us through Christmas. But after Christmas, people still need to eat.”
Monture said if people can donate non-expired food to them, they would appreciate it. They’re often given expired food. “We still get them. We don’t hand them out.” Other area food banks, including in Hamilton, hand out expired goods. Monture says if anyone is willing to donate to help through the holidays, the food bank would appreciate it. “Cash donations always help. We greatly appreciate the people that come to the food bank, that use the food bank, but also everyone that’s donated. Every donation means we can feed another community member. It’s a big sincere thank you, Nia:weh to community members and organizations that support us.”
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