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Much More Than Food
by Jim Easterday
Many local residents in the north give generously to the Food Bank but many don't know who receives food from the Food Bank. The answers may surprise you.

According to Heather Dalley, of the Salvation Army, who runs the Food Banks in Smithers and Houston, there are many reasons that people turn to the Food Bank for help.

Young families living from one paycheque to the next use the Food Bank, especially if there is a layoff and a required three-month wait for Employment Insurance or Social Assistance.
Heather Dalley opens day-old bread donated by a local bakery

Single mothers were common years ago but times change and now there are as many single fathers. More dads gain custody of children and then find it hard to keep ahead of expenses.
Laurel Silveira volunteers in the Food Bank and helps distribute groceries
Forest industry workers use the Food Bank more these days than in the past. Frequent layoffs and part-time work make it difficult for hard-working residents to keep afloat financially.

If there is a lot of work available in the community, the number of Food Bank clients goes down. Today, the numbers are up.

The surprise group of Food Bank users are grandparents taking care of young children. A son, daughter or relative is no longer able to care for their kids and the grandparents step in to help.

Why would the young parent give up on their children? It could be alcohol or drug abuse, illness or lack of work.

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