Canadian Foodgrains Bank making a difference to world hunger

This photo shows one of the kitchen gardens locals in Uganda are being encouraged to grow to assist with their food security. The building in the middle of the photo is one of the homes. (Arnold Ypma Photo)

Jeff Helsdon, Editor

Local participants in the Canadian Foodgrains Bank learned more about how their efforts were making a difference at a recent appreciation event held at Crosspoint Community Church on Jan. 17.

Canadian Foodgrains Bank is a humanitarian organization, based in Winnipeg. It is supported by 15 different church denominations, representing 12,000 congregations. Locally, a sign on a field north of Tillsonburg on Highway 19 signifies the project being celebrated, which is a joint effort between Crosspoint and Mt. Elgin United Church.

“Our mission is to end global hunger, said Henry Reiders, recently-retired Ontario representative for the Canadian Foodgrains Bank. “Our vision is a world without hunger.”

The Canadian Foodgrains Bank model is for local groups across the country to grow crops, sell the harvest and donate the proceeds to the national organization.

“There’s actually enough food available in the world to feed everyone, it’s just the distribution isn’t equal,” Reiders said.

Canadian Food Grains Bank has helped 1.2 million people in 74 countries with over $74 million in assistance. This is delivered through emergency food delivery in times of crisis and long-term response to help people improve their household food security. The federal government will match money raised through the program, but it maxes out at $25 million per year, which is reached annually.

There are 80 to 90 growing projects in Ontario, varying from one acre to 300 acres, with an average of 15 to 20 acres.

Reiders said people are dying because they don’t have access to food, and resources outside of food, such as vaccinations and maternity classes.

“Aid is something that helps everyone, including us in Canada,” he said, explaining vaccinations can reduce the risk of disease and conflicts spreading globally.

Canadian Foodgrains Banks statistics state every $1 that goes out for aid brings back $1.19.

Today, there are 318 million people who are considered food insecure, which is double the number from 2019. This has already cost 600,000 lives, a number that could jump to 14 million by 2030. Many of those at risk of death are children.

The local initiative is on 16 acres of land, north of Ostrander. It sees volunteers working the land, planting and harvesting. Support is also received through donated supplies and equipment from local agriculture dealerships.

On the ground

Arnold Ypma, one of the local participants, provided insight into a trip he took to Uganda last year to see the work of Canadian Foodgrains Bank on the ground. World Renew, another organization that works to address hunger, was also an organizer of the trip.

Ypma said the situation in Uganda is made worse by people fleeing from Sudan.

“They’re simply going from one area of poverty to another area of poverty, hoping to avoid conflict and trying to find a life there,” he said.

The trip involved stops at two different areas of Uganda. One common theme in both was hearing what life was like before and after Canadian Foodgrains Bank and World Renew assisted.

Traditionally, the area visited depended on cattle for survival, and as a form of currency. Many of the cattle area gone due to theft and worsening situations. The situation was dire enough that half the infants born died of starvation. Emergency food aid was the first step, but then people were trained to grow crops.

Ypma said it was found the soil was rich enough and there was enough rain during the wet season to grow crops. Locals were taught to save money from their food sales in the wet season to be able to purchase food in the dry season. Now, 90 per cent have food security.

“That’s life changing,” he said.

For instance, the former practice was to scatter corn seed to plant it. Now, the Ugandans have been taught to plant in rows to increase yield.

Another change is the thank-you presentation put on by the locals was done by people from three different villages. The villages were seven to eight miles apart and travelling from one to another is by walking. Whereas before residents of the villages were fighting and stealing cattle from each other, now all are working together.

In another village, a young married couple were only eating one meal a day, and skipping meals some days, just over a decade ago. Now, with education from Canadian Food Grain Bank and World renew, they have food security and area assisting people in nine other nearby villages.

The goal is that after five to seven years of assistance a community will become self-sustaining.