As supply chain issues and labour shortages continue to impact the availability of food on grocery store shelves, the trickle-down effects on those facing food insecurity seem to be overlooked.
Over the past few weeks, consumers have taken to social media, posting pictures of empty shelves and product shortages. Some have gone so far as to weaponize these images, attributing blame to political leadership and public health measures.
There are a number of factors at play to explain the sparsely stocked grocery store shelves — snowstorms, border blockades, labour shortages, shipping delays, lack of transportation and global unrest in developing countries, where a large portion of our produce originates. And while it is inconvenient to have to go to a few different grocery stores to find a certain item, or quickly pull out our smartphones to Google “food substitutes” when something is out of stock, it doesn’t take much to adjust our meal planning.
Where the shortages are truly felt are among our most vulnerable residents. Those facing food insecurity do not have the luxury of adapting their meal planning on a whim. They go to the grocery store in search of staple items to try and feed themselves or their families for as long as possible. When supply is limited, it inevitably leads to cost increases that their budgets simply cannot handle.
Coupled with inflation being at a 30-year high and the skyrocketing cost of milk and dairy, which has seen a 15 per cent increase since the beginning of February, the impacts felt by those facing food insecurity are substantial. And unfortunately, there is no end in sight.
The impacts of these challenges can be felt across the entire social assistance network. Food banks and their agency partners are no longer providing emergency food assistance in times of need. They are becoming the norm for more and more families facing food insecurity.
From October to December 2021, the Community Food Assistance Network saw an 80 per cent increase in new households accessing food assistance for the first time. Responsible for a broad range of community programs, including shelter, housing, employment support and family services, the network has been overwhelmed with daily requests for food assistance and other vital supports.
This is not sustainable. Nor should it come as a surprise. Experts have been warning about supply chain issues for decades. It was only a matter of time before our increasing reliance on global food suppliers outpaced the infrastructure and labour force we have in place to transport these goods. Climate change, labour unrest, processing delays and a declining agricultural workforce have also contributed to this disruption.
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As the pandemic exacerbates these challenges, it has also exposed decades of social policy neglect, with our most vulnerable residents struggling to find the supports they need. The Food Bank and our agency partners have been working diligently to fill the critical gaps in our social assistance network, but we are also facing unprecedented operational challenges, including a reduction in volunteers, food supply shortages, reallocation of operating dollars and significant increases in food purchase budgets, which are not sustainable in the long-term.
Food banks across Canada cannot keep up with this increasingly high level of demand. The time is now to explore policy solutions that could reduce dependence on food banks while addressing much-needed gaps in our social assistance network.
Wendi Campbell, CEO of The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, brings more than 25 years’ experience and expertise to the non-profit sector. A passionate community leader and strategic connector, Campbell takes a progressive approach to ensure those in need of food support receive assistance.