Feed Nova Scotia sees 68% increase in food bank usage since 2021
CBC
Feed Nova Scotia is reporting a 68 per cent increase in Nova Scotians accessing support from their food banks since 2021, with newcomers and renters more likely to require support.
Food banks affiliated with the organization have provided groceries to at least 36,227 people between July and September of this year alone.
That's approximately 3.4 per cent of Nova Scotia's population — the highest percentage on record for the third quarter in a row, according to Feed Nova Scotia's quarterly report.
Harold Smith has been volunteering at the Halifax West Ecumenical Food Bank in Fairview for 30 years. He said it's never been busier.
"There's so many immigrants now — new Canadians coming into this area — that it's increased the demand," said Smith. "And with rent prices up so high, the demand has been great."
Feed Nova Scotia's report said 28.4 per cent of households using its food banks include people who have been living in Canada for 10 years or less.
Abdulrazaq Qazizdad immigrated to Nova Scotia from Afghanistan about a year ago with his wife and three young children.
Back home, Qazizdad said he was a lawyer and owned a law firm, but now he's starting from scratch and relies on monthly visits to the food bank to feed his family.
"Everything is new for us — new culture, new life," he said. "I studied up to a master's degree, but here I should start from the beginning. It is very difficult because I support my family. I want to work. I want to find a job."
Rosa Mendoza is from El Salvador and came to Nova Scotia alone four years ago when she was pregnant with her daughter.
She said most of her money goes toward rent, leaving little leftover for groceries.
She tries to shop at stores that offer more affordable items, but said she relies on the food bank to help mitigate costs.
"If I don't have available food bank, I think [I would] have limited food," said Mendoza.
Romaine Rhoden, director of donor relations at Parker Street Food and Furniture Bank, said approximately 40 to 50 per cent of their clients are newcomers.
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