Food bank usage across Canada is the highest it’s been since 1989, with a 47 per cent increase nationwide since March 2022. This number is expected to rise significantly when the data from the March 2023 to March 2024 period is calculated.

Ahead of next month’s federal budget, a London NDP MP is pushing for a national school lunch program.

Lindsay Mathyssen, MP for London-Fanshawe, says a national program would amount to equality for children in public schools through healthy food and nutrition.

“When you’re going to school hungry, you don’t concentrate, you don’t perform the way you need to, you can’t absorb things,” says Mathyssen. “If you’re constantly hungry that’s always on your mind.”

Such a program is long overdue, she says. Not only will it provide food to students, but it also aims to alleviate the burden on their parents or guardians. Many people are forced to choose between rent or other necessities and food, so this would provide some relief. [...]

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Tagging: @politicsofcanada, @vague-humanoid

I messed up budgeting this month, while I'm not completely broke there wasn't anything left for fresh fruit or veggies. I live in a community with Jewish food pantry that serves neighbors from all walks of life (Jewish or not) including kosher clients. I'm blown away by how much good fresh food they gave me and how friendly everyone was. They didn't bat an eye at knowing what I could actually cook since I have only a Dairy kitchen. They even had special Rosh Hashanah bags with apples, honey, frozen challah, and candles! If you're genuinely struggling to afford the holidays check with your local Jewish Federation/JCC/Shul/JCFS and see if they can point you to a food pantry that can help.

I successfully convinced a toddler at the food bank that my rollator is a racecar so today is a win

The Reverend Raymond Brown and others hand out bread and milk to unemployed people outside St. Peter's Mission, around January 23, 1931.

Photo: Associated Press

Normalize going to food banks.

Nouveaux fruits et légumes venus d'ailleurs dû au réchauffement climatique

Ann Walker's Legacy: Continuing the Charitable Tradition

It’s that time of the year where we launch the annual fundraiser for a local foodbank in the name of Ann Walker - carrying on her legacy from her will. We'll be posting during the fundraiser to show you new finds, blogs and items for auction! Please donate here and learn more about the Walkers' fundraising legacy!

Image source: St Matthew’s charitable accounts, West Yorkshire Archive Service, Wakefield, WDP47

Why do we raise funds in Ann Walker‘s name? Our kick-off blog for this year's appeal will tell you about Ann and her uncle’s wills and her charity which ran until the 1970’s.

In the spirit of the Walkers’ bequests and in Ann Walker’s name we are raising money for the Brighouse Foodbank until Christmas Eve in order to honour her legacy. This foodbank is about 2.5 miles from Cliffe Hill, Ann Walker’s last residence. You can donate directly here, all funds go directly to the foodbank.

The Crap Keeps Coming

I swear to all that is holy, I am going to wig out soon. I just want to get our own apartment and not have to deal with back and forth between a motel room and a minivan. Is that asking for too much?

I have some applications for a few low-income housing sites in the area being mailed to me. Mind you, it's another waitlist. After sending in so many applications and being put on 50+ waitlists in 5 states, something has got to open up. At least, that's what I am hoping for. The unfortunate thing is having to pay $50/per adult per application for background checks. I really do not have money to work with, so this means that some bills are going to have to be put off. We need a freaking place to live asap.

My youngest daughter has been getting harassed by a certain male that cannot take no for an answer. I reminded her that if he tries to touch her, she will make me proud by kicking him in the groin and dropping him like a bad habit. It just sucks because being homeless is bad enough. Now my 16 yr old has to do with this pig. She's been through enough.

We have not been able to get any food from the local soup kitchen for the past week and a half. We do not know what is going on other than the pastor that heads the place has mentioned that they are having trouble getting donations and issues with getting people to do the cooking. So that means we are scrounging around for food since EBT does not last a full 2 weeks, especially when you do not have a stove/oven, and a full-size fridge and freezer. Convenience foods are very expensive. We don't even buy name-brand items.

So we need money for food, to fix the van, and a motel room again because the manager has again reminded us that we have to be out on the 20th. The back and forth from a motel room to the van is killing us.

@helly-watermelonsmellinfellon

I went to an event today that I'd seen advertised on facebook, where this local lady makes onion bhajis and invites people into her home, collecting item donations for the local foodbank from visitors.

Got chatting to her and she's been doing this for SEVEN YEARS, starting as a collection for the refugee camp in Calais and then switching to Slough food bank when the Jungle was cleared. In this time she has collected over 1 tonne of goods for the food bank.

She said she started because she was so despondent at local politics- people were running as Labour candidates but didn't care about left wing policies at all. It was all about corruption and power and wasn't actually helping anyone.

Such a fabulous example of direct action.

Oh and she's got a cat called Jezza

🇵🇷 This morning, me, my mom, and Elizabeth, a relative of my dad, worked at the food pantry in support of Second Union Church. It was said as we all worked that 500 boxes were to be filled with food ranging from rice to pasta and canned foods. Tomorrow, we will be in Hormigueros leading a youth camp in anticipation for Easter Sunday. 🥫🍚

me when i wake up

btw did u know that your government is supposed to work for you and that it's entire reason for existing is to ensure that everyone's fundamental rights are upheld? These rights include food, water, shelter, medicine, clothes, safety, education, infrastructure, child care, and much much more! Sounds like a lot? Not at all, that's what taxes are for! All of this is possible but only if the rich pay their fair share of taxes and the government is dedicated to spending those taxes properly and effectively!

California food banks see surge in families - CalMatters