Why do we need a Food Bank in Tobermory? When people ask how many visits to the Food Bank we have, they are surprised at how many in our community face Food Insecurity. A couple of years ago we might have 6 clients visit the Food Bank each week, now we have seen as many as 16. This does not represent how many people, nor how many households, we assist. Not every client comes on a weekly basis. And it cannot be said often enough that we could not continue our work helping those facing Food Insecurity without the wonderful support we receive from individuals, organizations and businesses that donate on a consistent basis.
So why is Food Insecurity increasing here and throughout Ontario and indeed Canada?
In our Tobermory Food Bank columns and in all media, there is a lot spoken about Food Insecurity. We know a simple definition is a person or a household not being able to afford to buy more food when they run out. But last year two reports came out that went further in depth about the causes and effects of Food Insecurity.
The first one came in October 2024 from Grey Bruce Public Health. “The Cost of Eating Well and The Urgent Issue of Food Insecurity”. The report states that one in five households in Grey Bruce are Food Insecure. Data for 2023 shows that a startling 30.7% of children in Ontario under 18 lived in households affected by Food Insecurity. The report can be found on the Grey Bruce Public Health site Publichealthgreybruce.on.ca
Another report in November 2024 by the Living Wage Network showed what a “Living Wage” in Ontario would need to be in order to provide food, accommodation, utilities and transportation to households. When the report was released, Francesca Dobbyn of Bruce-Grey United Way was quoted as saying “It’s just your go to work, come home, stay alive budget”. Where we in Grey Bruce rank on the scale is surprising. The only place that requires a higher living wage is the Greater Toronto Area. There a living wage is $26.00 an hour. The figure for Grey Bruce is $23.05 an hour. That is more than Ottawa at $22.80, Hamilton at $21.30 and London Elgin-Oxford at $19.50.
Many factors make it more expensive to live in a semi-rural or rural area. Accommodation and utility costs are higher, as well as transportation costs, and of course, the cost of food. The Living Wage Report can be found at ontariolivingwage.ca
On behalf of everyone at the Tobermory Food Bank, thank you for donations that enable us to assist those facing Food Insecurity. If you have any questions about the Tobermory Food Bank or wish to donate, please visit our website tobermoryfoodbank.ca or call Linda at 519-596-2333.
Written by Linda Godhue, Tobermory Food Bank Volunteer, for the Bruce Peninsula Press.