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alert issued for 4 Safety certain seasonal lights
Daryl Dacosta was one of several volunteers to help with the 2nd Annual Butterfly Tree of Lights ceremony in Invermere on Friday, December 11th, hosted by the Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley at Frater Landing. PHOTO BY BREANNE MASSEY
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Columbia Valley food bank use on the rise BREANNE MASSEY breanne@invermerevalleyecho.com A recent surge in the cost of food has pushed a number of families further into poverty with Columbia Valley residents struggling to put food on their tables due to unexpected increases. The Columbia Valley Food Bank recently reported a 14 per cent increase in use among local families between September and November 2015 compared to the same time period recorded locally from the last three years. “We seem to be having a bit more of an increase than the national average,” said Ronald Stainthorpe, board chair of the Columbia Valley Food Bank, while noting the use of Canadian food banks has increased by 26 per cent since 2008, according to the HungerCount 2015. According to Food Banks Canada’s annual report, more than 850,000 Canadians used food banks during March
2015, and of those, nearly 80,000 ac- to the HungerCount 2015, and believes cessed a food bank for the first time. the economic downturn in Alberta and But Stainthorpe added March is an the East Kootenay region may be comunusually busy month at food banks parable. everywhere. “Alberta has gone up 23.4 per cent “B.C. is showing a 2.8 per cent in- from one year to the next, which is much crease (100,086 people assisted) in more than any other province so maybe March 2015,” he explained. “We’re the economic situation over there trickprobably more than les over here,” exWe seem to be that, but March is a plained Stainthorpe. really unusually large having a bit more But there’s no such and busy month for of an increase than the a thing as a typical us, so if we look at food bank user. the last three months national average. Food Banks Canada RONALD STAINTHORPE from September to COLUMBIA VALLEY FOOD BANK data indicates that one November — comin six food bank users paring to the past three years — we’re are employed, and 67 per cent of houseabout 14 per cent higher in number of holds are helped by food banks live in people for those three months than we rental housing and pay market-level rent. were in the three previous years, which “There’s a belief that only a narrow is quite a large increase.” section of our population uses a food He stated that Alberta had also seen bank, but that’s not the case,” exan increase of 23.4 per cent (67,443 peo- plained Jeff Schwartz, Consolidated ple assisted) in March 2015 according Credit Counselling Services of Canada
executive director, in a recent press release. “Food insecurity affects a range of Canadians from families to singles, retired to working class.” Schwartz encourages the “financially vulnerable” to assess their situation, create a budget, prioritize needs and forget wants as well as to use the tools that are available. “Whether it’s low wages, high housing costs, credit card debt with crippling interest charges, or any other dayto-day living expenses, it’s becoming harder and harder for Canadians to make ends meet,” said Schwartz. “Increases in food bank usage since 2008 show that people are still in need.” As a result of the growing crisis, the Columbia Valley Food Bank has recently been participating in several fundraising campaigns to raise money and canned products for the food bank over the Christmas holidays. See A3
Live Music Christmas Jam at The Station Pub
Saturday December 19th starting at 5 pm What does ART mean to you?
The Shortest Day Film Fest at Pynelogs · Monday December 21
Happy BirtHday to pynelogs! st
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1914 - 2014
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