Food bank need exists throughout Manitoba, says Winnipeg Harvest

The head of Winnipeg Harvest says the need for food banks and other agencies exists in every part of the province.

The Winnipeg-based food bank has released The Geography of Hunger, a new report that says 95 per cent of political constituencies in the province have emergency food agencies, which include food banks, soup kitchens, daycares and drop-ins that use food programs.

The food bank says its distribution centre serviced 63,791 people a month last year, with the amount of food equivalent to four times what the MTS Centre can hold.

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The report found that Winnipeg Harvest, which works with more than 300 agencies across the province, shares food with emergency food agencies in 54 of 57 constituencies.

The three that don't have agencies within their boundaries — Seine River, Fort Whyte and Brandon West — have at least two agencies in neighbouring constituencies, the report says.

"People don't understand the reach and the scope of all this," David Northcott, the food bank's executive director, told CBC News on Monday.

Northcott said the issue of hunger and the need for food banks extends beyond the soup kitchens in Winnipeg and Brandon that people often see.

"There's 63,000 people and change using a food bank on a monthly basis in Manitoba … of that, there's about 2,200, maybe 2,500 are street people, so the percentage is small," he said.

"No disrespect to them and we need to really focus on them, but we thought we need to tell the story better about how big this reach is. So this reach goes throughout Manitoba."

Highest concentration in Winnipeg's inner city

The report says the highest concentration of emergency food agencies in Winnipeg's inner-city constituencies, such as Point Douglas and Logan.

In fact, the top 10 constituencies on the list were all in Winnipeg:

1. Point Douglas — 60 agencies.
2. Logan — 55.
3. Wolseley — 32.
4. Tyndall Park — 15.
5. St. Vital — 11.
6. Elmwood — 10.
7. Minto — 10.
8. Fort Rouge — 9.
9. St. Boniface — 7.
10. St. Johns — 7.

The top 10 constituencies are home to a total of 216 emergency food agencies, accounting for 65 per cent of the total number.

The report was released at a conference to mark Winnipeg Harvest's 30th anniversary. Northcott said he's not celebrating the milestone.

Northcott added that before the end of this year, there will be an even greater need for food bank services as the province prepares to take in upwards of 2,000 Syrian refugees.

"I'm concerned about having 63,000 mouths to feed on a daily basis. To add 2,000, it just adds to our pressure," Northcott said.

"Are we prepared for it? We're as prepared as we ever will and we'll continue. As the numbers grow, we'll respond to it."

The conference features presentations and discussions about poverty, the need for basic incomes, and advocating for those in need in advance of next spring's provincial election.

CBC Manitoba hosts an annual day of music, stories and giving in support of Winnipeg Harvest. This year's Harvesting Hope will be on Dec. 11.