The executive director of one of the busiest food banks in the metro region says we’re in the middle of a health crisis with more and more people unable to afford to put meals on the table.
Jody Williams of Bridges to Hope in St. John’s says one of the most alarming numbers he sees is that three years ago only seven per cent of their clientele were working people. That has swollen to 35 per cent.
Williams says it might be time for government to consider ways to reduce food wastage. For example, in France it’s illegal to waste food. As well, he says some grocery stores and restaurants are hesitant to donate to food banks out of fear of liability.
(File photo.)
He estimates that the wastage is so significant that if all the grocery stores donated, Bridges to Hope would not be able to handle the volume. He says the wastage is probably more profound in winter when 96 per cent of our food is trucked in.
Relief operations like food banks receive no money from government. Williams says it’s difficult to see children going hungry.
About 30 per cent of their clientele is children under 15 years of age whereas a few years ago that demographic accounted for only 17 per cent.
