THUNDER BAY – On Monday, the Regional Food Distribution Association (RFDA) plans to set its sights on enlightening Thunder Bay city council about the growing challenges of keeping up with a higher demand for food distribution in the city.
“The food banking is really starting to stretch us to the limit,” said RFDA executive director Volker Kromm, adding that due to the high demand from food-insecure residents, his organization must review some of its programming with an eye to making cuts to some services.
According to a recent RFDA report, food-bank usage has increased by 33 per cent while meal program visitation has increased by 58 per cent in the past few years. Home deliveries have increased from 12 to 30 daily, without increased funding to cover the added cost.
Kromm plans to tell council it's an unstable approach and the RFDA will need to get creative in finding additional funding.
“We have plans to visit, go to the business community and to the generous donors in Thunder Bay to help us with those,” Kromm said.
“The second thing is the city has committed to helping us with our capital campaign and they've been very generous over the years in supporting our basic staffing needs. It has been good that way, but we're well beyond sustainability.”
A $500,000 contract with the city, to help cover a planned 5,000-square-foot expansion, is awaiting a signature from a city signing authority.
The project, when completed, will provide additional space for its food supply operation, including more storage and preparation space.
Additionally, the expansion includes the addition of a second community kitchen for teaching food literacy.
Kromm said the expansion with make Thunder Baby a major hub for food distribution and education, for those struggling with food insecurity.
However, the real challenge at the moment is keeping our doors open.
“We're into the giving season and we are in a panic because, you know, when you're operating, you're getting close to being in the red. You have to make the hard decisions.”
He admits the first service RFDA is likely their home delivery program.
The RFDA started the home delivery programs during the pandemic at the request of council, so those who physically couldn’t get to the food bank were able to get access to food.
“We have realized that this is really a much-needed program because we can see the need. When we do the door-to-door, there are situations that need to be addressed much like the homelessness for us. It is those people that can't get to a food bank that can't get to a meal program,” Kromm said.
“But it is one of those things that if we can't afford it, we have to cut it out and then I don't know what will happen to those folks that have become somewhat dependent on that little extra help that we provide how much money is needed to continue that program.”
Kromm said the RFDA isn’t asking council for additional funding, but making sure they are aware of their current situation. He wants to look toward the community before asking council to look within the city’s budget.
“We're all in this together and this is one way they can show their support for all the people who can't make it to a food bank or can't make it to a meal program. That's a really tangible way for the community to help,” Kromm said.
