These food bank managers say more government support is needed as demand for service increases

Demand is increasing at Newfoundland and Labrador food banks ahead of the holiday season, and one food bank chair says a lack of solutions from governments aren't helping.

Peter Wells, chair of the board for the Conception Bay South-Paradise food bank, said his group is moving between 350 and 400 food hampers per month. Demand is up while donations are down, he said, but a lack of government support isn't making things easier in a time of desperate need.

"We get absolutely nothing from government. And in fact I've even heard government people say there's no need for food banks. If there's no need for food banks, why are we here?." Wells told CBC News.

"I've been hearing that for over 35 years.… Government got to change its attitude and realize that people of the province are going hungry and the province is not helping one bit."

Part of the problem food banks face in this province are rising costs and taxation, Wells said. He said his food bank is paying between $15,000 and $25,000 a month for goods, and pays $2,000 a month to rent its space.

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Food banks to government: It’s time to get involved — here’s how

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Food banks are not immune from increasing food prices, but workers know it’s their clients who are suffering. The CBC’s Heather Gillis speaks to several staff who have different ideas on how the provincial government could potentially step in when it comes to food and affordability.

"The tax situation here is killing everybody. I mean everything is taxed to death. You know, I don't care what anybody says, all these taxes go on food," he said. 

At the Community Food Sharing Association in St. John's, which supports 60 food banks across Newfoundland and Labrador, manager Tina Bishop said the cost of food purchases has risen 67 per cent from last year, and the cost of transporting that food has risen by 51 per cent.

The association expects to help over 8,500 families this holiday season, about 500 more than last year.

"Food banks are reporting to us every week that the number of new families they're seeing is increasing. Just right across the board, the demand is increasing significantly," Bishop said.

"The need is significant in Newfoundland and Labrador. And not just here, it is right across the country."

Bishop said more support is needed given the increase in demand. A recent report from Food Banks Canada showed more than two million Canadians visited a food bank in March alone, including over 14,000 Newfoundlanders and Labradorians.

She'd like to see a grocery rebate reintroduced by the federal government for a short-term solution.

"We've seen in the past that that works incredibly well. People are using that money to go purchase food for their families," she said.

She'd also like to see government programs like income support get reviewed in the long-term. Food Banks Canada says 62 per cent of food bank clients in Newfoundland and Labrador are on income support.

"A basic right is food on the table, and nobody should have to go without food," Bishop said.

"I mean our numbers are showing over 30 per cent [of users] are children under the age of 18. There's no child in Canada that should have to go without food."

Wells wants to see the province help by addressing taxation and introducing grants to help food banks.

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