Over 7,000 households in Chatham-Kent needed help putting food on the table in 2024.
That’s according to Outreach for Hunger, a food bank based in Chatham.
Brenda LeClair, the non-profit’s executive director, told CK News Today this is roughly 1,000 more households than what they helped in 2023.
“To me, that’s disturbing. That’s something we need to take notice of, why is there so many people needing to turn to food banks,” she said.
While there’s no one reason for this, LeClair couldn’t help but mention the rising cost of living. This is because a good chunk of people they’re helping have jobs.
“It’s an alarming number of working families that just can’t make it with the cost of living, the cost of food,” she added.
Around three per cent of people who used Outreach for Hunger in 2024 had full-time jobs with another four per cent having part-time jobs. Another 78 per cent received money through different supports such as Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program, and the Canada Pension Plan.
LeClair doesn’t believe the next 12 months will be any better.
“I think we need to brace ourselves and be prepared for 2025,” she added.
So far, Outreach for Hunger is well stocked due to all the donations the organization received over Christmas and New Year’s.
Despite this, LeClair is still asking people to donate if they can. Donations can be made online at the Outreach for Hunger’s website and CanadaHelps, as well as in person at the food bank’s location on Wellington Street West.