Mississauga food bank system lays off staff, cuts programs to preserve food resources

The food bank system in one in every of Ontario’s largest cities says it’s been compelled to put off employees and reduce applications with the intention to maintain feeding the rising variety of residents who depend on meals donations.

Meals Banks Mississauga says it’s decreasing its paid workforce by 16 per cent and cancelling two applications to make sure its long-term sustainability.

The group says that was “the one path ahead” to keep away from lowering the quantity of meals it may give out, with native meals financial institution utilization at an all-time excessive.

It says one in 13 residents in Mississauga, a metropolis of almost 800,000 individuals, depend on meals banks and it expects to serve 100,000 guests a yr by 2027.

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Feed Ontario says greater than 1,000,000 individuals throughout the province visited a meals financial institution in 2023-2024, and almost 40 per cent of surveyed meals banks had been compelled to cut back the quantity of meals they provide out.

Meals Banks Mississauga says demand for emergency meals has grown quicker than donations obtained and its cash can’t stretch as far.

“Now we have been compelled to make this painful however obligatory determination to put off employees and cancel applications to protect our sources to help meals financial institution guests,” Meals Banks Mississauga CEO Meghan Nicholls mentioned in a press release Wednesday.

“This is among the most tough choices we’ve needed to make as a company, and sadly, it’s the solely path ahead to take care of the identical degree of service we offer to our group.”

Nicholls mentioned meals banks have been a “Band-Assist resolution” to gaps in social help applications and stretching that too far has resulted in her group’s restructuring.

Meals Banks Mississauga is urging individuals to evaluate the platforms of Ontario’s political events and to “vote for representatives who pledge to handle poverty and meals insecurity” within the Feb. 27 provincial election.