Cost-of-living crisis drives food bank demand

The Simcoe Salvation Army team includes from left Josh Edwards, Corps Officer; Chesney Edwards, Lieutenant; Tina Rigglesford, Community Service Intake Caseworker; and Eli Navas, Community Services Program Coordinator at the Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church.

Luke Edwards

Grant Haven Media

Simcoe Salvation Army undertakes community needs assessment to offer additional services

The rise in cost of living, mental health challenges, and unemployment has prompted The Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church to provide additional community initiatives.

​Josh Edwards, concerned corps officer at The Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church, says the food bank on Colbourne Street has seen a 21 per cent increase of new customers seeking food and essential items for their day-to-day needs. He adds that there are a variety of underlying factors that could be increasing the demand. 

​“One of the major factors is the cost-of-living crisis that we’re facing,” said Edwards. “With just a trip to the grocery store, people are having to make tough choices of what they can afford. There is also a greater need for mental health and employment support to get people to a point where they can live in today’s world.”

​Edwards explains that while the food bank at the Salvation Army Simcoe Community Church does provide food and essential items for people in need, more needs to be done to address the trend. 

​“We are going to be running a community needs assessment that analyzes the Salvation Army's internal framework,” said Edwards. “We recently hired a food bank coordinator who’s going to oversee this program and determine what the highest community needs are so we can offer additional support.”

Edwards says he expects new initiatives from the assessment results to launch in the new year. 

​VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

The food bank is currently looking for volunteers to help with upcoming holiday initiatives such as the annual Christmas Kettle Campaign set to launch on Nov. 15 and the Christmas Hamper Program. Edwards says that volunteers can expect to be sorting, picking up, and packaging items for community use.

“​Although we are steady with our supply, there have been some concerning moments where we have been low in stock,” said Edwards. “This summer was pretty scary; there were a few times when we had bare shelves due to increased demand.

“Here in the community, we are fortunate enough to be supported by many local organizations and grocery stores that make sure we have a good food supply.  We are stocked up now thanks to our community partners.” 

​For community members interested in donating, Edwards says that high priority items are dry goods, especially breakfast cereal, pasta, and peanut butter, and feminine hygiene products. 

​Edwards said that the Salvation Army is curious to see if the high cost of living will be a growing concern, but he reassures the community the food bank’s team will be ready to serve the local needs.