Quebec’s aid to food banks has already run out

Three short months will be enough for Quebec food banks to spend the $6 million awarded by the Legault government. With the holidays approaching, they’re asking for $18 million now because, in the coming weeks, “the lines will get longer.”

We used it to buy essentials […]Eggs, milk, vegetables, fruits, rice, peanut butterMartin Munger, director general of Quebec’s food banks, explains the benefits of the money provided by the provincial government last July.

However, recently, food shortages have started to reappear in some service stations, Mr. Munger says.

What our members have been saying on the ground since then is that every week, there are new faces coming in, people coming back often to help, and it just keeps growing.

So Quebec’s food banks are knocking on the Legault government’s door in hopes of getting help again. In the short term. The requested $18 million can be held till the end of March 2024, Mr. Munger believes.

We can go through the holiday season and the first months of the year when it’s very difficult to get donations.

A meeting is scheduled for next week with Chantal Rouleau, the minister responsible for social cohesion and social action.

His office did not say in writing whether it intended to fully respond to Quebec’s food banks’ request, but he indicated that Ms. Rouleau had the problem. Especially in the heart.

Needs persist. Our government will continue to work to leave no one behindHis press officer Jean-Philippe Labre pointed out.

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A growing need

Last winter, before Finance Minister Eric Girard tabled the budget, Quebec’s food banks asked for $24 million in one-time aid to buy food due to growing demand and rising food prices.

In July, the government paid 34 million to the network, but most of the envelope was aimed at improving storage infrastructure. Only 6 million was intended to purchase food items.

So that’s the difference between the $24 million requested during pre-budget consultations and the $6 million food banks now expect to receive last summer.

Even when competing with originality to complete contracts, the network confirms that food and cash donations are not enough to meet people’s needs.

We are indeed constantly improving and innovating, but we cannot cope with increasing demand alone.

The pandemic created an increase of about 30%. After that, it didn’t calm down. Inflation has put pressure on demandMr. Munger explains.

Quebec food banks provide supplies to nearly 1,200 local organizations across Quebec. Each month, the network responds to more than 2 million requests for food assistance.