A local non-profit organization, that caters to those in need, received a large amount of funding from the provincial government to reach more people around the holidays.
Two million dollars went to Feed Nova Scotia, with $800,000 allocated for their Holiday Fund, and $1.2 million to go to supporting their work.
The move comes after the organization discontinued their Christmas Registry, to be replaced with a Holiday Fund.
Executive Director Ash Avery tells our newsroom, the decision to make that change, did not come lightly.
“It’s a difficult decision anytime you change something that people are used to. But for us, it was certainly a very carefully considered decision. It was made with extensive feedback from our communities, from the food banks in our communities… and… you know, it really came down to resource allocation.”
Avery says it was about looking at the clients, agencies and organizations that they serve, ensuring resources were distributed evenly.
A decades long tradition changing
The Christmas Registry was around for 30 years.
Feed Nova Scotia says, for those who registered, it offered ways of support around the holidays with things like food or gift support.
However, Avery tells us, with a Holiday Fund in place, instead of just providing resources during Christmas, they can now provide support all year round.
“Recognizing that food banks and meal programs…they know their communities the best. They know how to best serve their communities. So, by giving them resources to make those determinations, we feel like that is just a more empowered way to distribute resources and support the community.”
Positive response
The Holiday Fund has been welcomed.
Avery says everybody is happy to receive food and funds around the holiday season, but in addition to that, recognizing that food banks are open 12 months of the year.
“The need does tend to increase in the winter seasons after Christmas. So, being able to have those resources available to the food banks is critical, right?”
Demand worst it’s ever been
There were more than 2 million visits to food banks in March, according to a recent report from Food Banks Canada.
That is a massive increase of 90 per cent compared to five years ago and 6 per cent from just last year, with a year over year increase in Nova Scotia of 21 per cent.
Avery says the report confirms we have reached a “grim” milestone, with demand “spiraling out of control”.
“We’ve seen a year over year increase of folks who are having to turn towards food banks to meet their basic needs and we know that only scratches the surface. We know there are countless more Nova Scotians who are experiencing food insecurity, who are not accessing food banks.”
What do they need?
Nova Scotia is now in a provincial election.
Avery tells us whoever will be the new governing body in our province needs to “take bold policy action” to “rebuild our safety social net”.
She says, Feed Nova Scotia is grateful for the $2 million but it still only goes so far, with a lot still left to be done at the leadership level.
“Finding out what it is that they are going to do to address poverty and the root cause of food insecurity. So, just looking to continue to have those conversations and continue to highlight the experiences of people who are accessing food banks and food banks themselves.”
-with files from Brad Perry
