Diocese Launches Food Security Appeal

Drawing on the success of last year's campaign, Bishop Susan Bell announced the return of the diocese's Giving Tuesday Food Security Appeal. A generous donor will once again match all donations up to $10,000.

"We are called to life and compelled to love," says the bishop, "and the care of our neighbours by helping to provide a warm meal, or some groceries, is all about doing that that."

According to Food Banks Canada, food banks across Canada have seen over two million visitors this year. A report from Feed Ontario shows that food banks in Ontario have seen one million of those visitors.

"Sadly, the needs facing our neighbours are only growing," says Bishop Bell. "But our churches are responding in extraordinary ways - being the face and hands of Christ - through the generosity of our parishioners and the communities we serve."

In the report from Food Banks Canada, children represent 700,000 of these visits. Forty per cent of food bank users rely on social assistance or disability-related supports and 18 per cent are currently employed, making this year the highest ever recorded for employed visitors.

Feed Ontario’s report says they’ve seen an increase in visitors of 25 per cent across its network with 69 per cent of the food banks in that network, concerned about having enough food to meet the demands. 29 per cent of the visitors in Ontario are children and in regions within the Diocese of Niagara that number increases to nearly 40 per cent.

These numbers do not include food banks outside the Feed Ontario or Food Banks Canada networks. Beyond these numbers are many people who seek the support of our parishes.

After last year’s appeal, $20,000 was raised and grants were distributed to 23 churches across the diocese that are responding to this growing need. These churches are responding in a variety of ways through food banks, the creation and maintenance of community food gardens and community fridges, hot meal services, pantry programs, prepared meal boxes, and meal services for homebound, at-risk, and marginalized communities. Parishes like Christ’s Church Cathedral, where their Cathedral Café saw 29,000 guests in its first six months or St. George’s in St Catharines, where their Community Breakfast Program served 31,340 guests in 2023, are also seeing a continued increase in demand.

"It's amazing what our churches are doing out of a deep care for their neighbours," says Bishop Bell. "I am so grateful for all who are helping us to do even more through this special appeal."

Year after year, the need becomes greater than ever. It also becomes more expensive for churches to provide nutritious and healthy food to our neighbours in need. Donations to the diocesan food security appeal will not only double the impact of donors but will also help our ministries to do even more to support those who are in need.

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