Additional financial assistance for the Food Depot Alimentaire.
The province is providing $2 million to benefit community food banks and soup kitchens.
“We know the need is great and we are providing assistance to food banks and community kitchens to purchase healthy food,” said Health Minister Bruce Fitch. “Today’s funding will help organizations around the province that are working to support those in need to provide more help to clients.”
The organization provides food to 65 food banks and community kitchens. Last year, it distributed over two million kilograms of food valued at more than $16 million as New Brunswick food banks reported a 35 per cent increase in usage and served an average of 26,000 clients per month.
“This allows us to purchase fresh food. We get a lot of food donated, but we don’t control what comes in, like non-perishable dry goods, and canned goods. This allows us to purchase meat, fish, fruits, vegetables, and eggs,” said Executive Director Stephane Sirois.
Food Depot Alimentaire Executive Director Stephane Sirois. Image: Tara Clow
The FDA distributes over five million pounds of food a year, at a cost of between $15 and $20 million.
The food purchasing budget this year is projected to be $3.5 million.
“This tops up all of the donations that we receive. We’re lucky to have a very successful 50/50 and this helps us cover our operations and a big part of our food purchasing budget as well. Without that draw, we would need a lot more support from the provincial government. We also receive a lot of food and funding from Food Banks Canada,” Sirois stated.
But in the past two years, demand is way up.
“Compared to 2022, we’ve seen 17 per cent more meals served in community kitchens and 35 per cent more visits. In those visits, there were 42 per cent more people served. That means they’re bigger families, with more families coming into food banks to get some help,” Sirois added.
He said they’re getting to a point where food banks and community kitchens are not just over capacity, they’re stretched to their limit.
“So it is becoming a major concern that we won’t be able to keep sustaining this.”
