‘Dignity of choice’: Halifax food bank offers new experience for clients

A Halifax non-profit organization that typically operated under the traditional food box model has changed to a choice-based food bank model following client feedback.

At the Brunswick Street Mission food bank in Halifax, they’ve done away with the pre-packaged food boxes, and instead let clients choose what they’d like.

The new Brunswick Street Market opened Monday and offers a new experience to those who need a helping hand.

“This is our food bank, but a food bank revamped,” said the organization’s executive director Derek Pace. “To provide the dignity of choice, so that people can come through and shop like they’re going to the grocery store.”

The non-profit organization has typically operated under the traditional food box model, but changed to this choice-based model following client feedback.

“To go home with a box of groceries, open it up and find out that there’s not a whole lot in there that you can eat, or that you’re going to enjoy — or that your kids are going to eat — would be very difficult. And we heard from clients that it was very difficult, so we wanted to give them the opportunity to shop,” said Pace, adding they try to keep stock in a variety of food items, including Halal meats and gluten-free options.

The new food bank opened at a pivotal time – demand has never been higher. In the first six months of 2021, Brunswick Street Mission served 170 households, representing 470 individuals. During that same period in 2022, the organization has served more than double that: 466 households, representing 1,088 people.

“There’s all kinds of factors that feed into that, but life is just getting more expensive and there seems to be a lot more month left over when the money runs out for people,” Pace said.

While the amount of people accessing food banks is stark, one expert told Global News it’s only a snapshot of the problem.