Rising food costs affecting Brandon programs
Inflation continues to increase the cost of living throughout Manitoba, and food prices are no exception.
Recent reporting from Statistics Canada show a nearly 10 percent increase in the cost of grocery items in July compared to the same time last year.
“We see groceries not lasting a month, but lasting almost only two weeks, sometimes a little less than,” says Mia Bastien, director of development and operations for The Women’s Resource Centre in Brandon. They have a breakfast program that provides meals to roughly 500 women and children in need each month.
But even with funding through grants, they need more help.
“When we write grants, we’re not anticipating the sharp increase or the trends and patterns, and that’s what we’re running into,” she says. “So that call to the community is a reflection of what we’re feeling and the trends we’re experiencing.”
Another group feeling financial strain is Brandon’s Food for Thought, which runs the Brandon School Division’s breakfast and snack programs, supporting 19 schools between Brandon and Shilo.
“This past year we fed over 132,000 students in those programs”, says Angie Strachan, Food for Thought’s program coordinator. “That is double the number of students the year before. And of course a big contributing factor to that is the food cost.”
“We appreciate their ability to help our students have access to nutrition and food on a daily basis,” says Brandon School Division superintendent Mathew Gustafson, adding that the partnership between BSD and Food for Thought is “very valuable.”
The rising cost of food leaves both groups calling on the community to help their programs operate.
“All of our donations are either monetary or food donations,” says Strachan, “so we rely on businesses, corporations, and individual donations.”
More information on how to donate to either organization can be found on their websites, thewomenscentrebrandon.com and brandonsfoodforthought.com.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
What to know about avian influenza in dairy cows and the risk to humans
Why is H5N1, or bird flu, a concern, how does it spread, and is there a vaccine? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions about avian influenza.
Pro-plastic lobbyist presence at UN talks is 'troubling,' say advocates
Environmentalist groups are sounding the alarm about a steep increase in the number of pro-plastic lobbyists at the UN pollution talks taking place this week.
opinion The special relationship between King Charles and the Princess of Wales
Royal commentator Afua Hagan writes that when King Charles recently admitted Catherine to the Order of the Companions of Honour, it not only made history, but it reinforced the strong bond between the King and his beloved daughter-in-law.