Donate to the Parkdale Community Food Bank on June 20th at the Pizza Potluck and make a difference!
Hunger is a supervillain who makes life harder for more than 305,000 Canadian children every month. For a child struggling with hunger, one meal could mean the difference between having the energy to succeed in school and failing a test, or between staying healthy and getting sick. Single-parent families with children are more vulnerable to hunger than any other household.
WE Club is holding a food drive for the Parkdale Community Food Bank to make sure everyone in our community can take a bite out of hunger. On June 20th, during Howard’s Pizza Potluck, families are encouraged to take action by donating 1 or more of the following highly needed items:
- Proteins (beans, lentils, tuna, baked beans, anchovies, etc.)
- Baby items (diapers, Formula, wipes, baby food, bottles, etc.)
Students from WE Club conducted a phone interview with the Parkdale Community Food Bank to learn more about what food banks need and how our community can help out. Here’s what we learned:
- Who uses the food bank?
Everyone uses the food bank including people who are homeless, people who lost their jobs, and those who can’t afford to pay their rent. - What are the requirements to be able to use a food bank?
People need to show proof of address or income, however, if proof of income or address is unavailable, they can still access the food bank services. They can visit the food bank once a week and up to four times per month. - How many people per day use the food bank?
Approximately 70 to 80 people used to access the food bank, but recently these numbers have increased to 150 people. This increase may be due to the recent increase in rent prices, particularly for single income families. Another contributing factor is the increasing cost of living (food, hydro, transportation, etc.) - What is your busiest season?
Christmas time and the holidays are the busiest seasons. - How many food banks are in our community?
There are 50 food banks in our community, but Parkdale Community Food Bank is the only food bank in Parkdale. - Which items have the highest demand?
There is a high demand for proteins such as tuna, beans, peanut butter, lentils, meat and eggs. Baby items (diapers, Formula, baby food, wipes) also go quickly. - Does the food bank accept prepared food and perishable items?
Yes, the food bank accepts both prepared food and perishable items. - Do you prefer receiving food or money?
The food bank is happy to receive both food and money. - How can you help out?
There are currently about 40 volunteers, but we can always use more help. You can volunteer your time as volunteers are always needed. If you would like to volunteer, come by during our opening hours and try it for a day. You can also donate food or money to the food bank. - What are your hours of operation?
Wednesday and Thursday- 10:00 – 3:30
Friday and Saturday- 10:00 – 1:30
Howard Public School Council 