Harvest House addressing Hunger

BY FRANCESCA PACCHIANO

The table is set, and the people are hungry. Amid the rise in poverty and food scarcity, local food banks are filling the gap to keep people fed.

Emily Holmes, coordinator for Harvest House, a food bank in Chemainus, spoke about the increased demand. “There’s just this constant growth and adjusting. Last year, we were on average 120 households a week, and right now, we’re hitting 170 households a week.”

Over the last three years since Holmes’ started at the food bank, she has seen the demand triple. In the July 2025 report, she noted they were serving 713 individuals throughout the month, compared to the 425 in January of this year.

She noted that there is an increase in households that are working and trying to support kids, a trend also seen by Food Banks Canada. The 2024 report noted that 18 per cent of people accessing support were working but simply couldn’t make ends meet. That’s the highest it’s ever recorded.

Not being able to make ends meet is a common problem, but it can be difficult to ask for help. “I think for anybody using the food bank, it’s sometimes a really hard step to say, ‘I need help.’ And we’re seeing more people who are waiting like it’s their last thing. We’ve had people show up who literally haven’t eaten.”

The 2024 Hunger Report showed a dramatic 90 per cent increase in use from March 2019 to March 2024. The report went on to describe this change as marking the breaking point for the food bank system. “The increased rate of change in usage since [2023] is just over six per cent, and food banks are struggling to continue meeting the sustained elevated demand.” And that’s before the global trade upheaval that Canada is facing this year.

While the full annual report hasn’t been released yet, Food Banks Canada did release their 2025 Report Cards in mid-September. This system measures the poverty trends, standards of living and legislative progress, and presents it in an easily accessible and comparable method: a letter grade.

Poverty in Canada, according to the report, received an “F” with the poverty rate at 10.2 per cent, and unemployment rate worsened from last year at 6.7 per cent. However, there is hope in this report. The section on Material Deprivation notes that Inadequate Standards of Living and Severely Inadequate Standards of Living have improved, jumping a full letter grade from a “D+” to now a “C+.”

The report noted that “food insecurity remains at record highs, but early signs of progress … offer hope.” The report outlines recommendations for the federal government regarding housing improvements, updating tax structures and investing in northern and Indigenous communities to ensure they’re getting the right support. If these are heeded, the report says that Canada could cut its food insecurity crisis in half by 2030. In the meantime, though, the local food banks are still on the front line of this crisis.

Despite this national pressure, Harvest House is a quiet space. Located in the basement of the Chemainus United Church, it’s peaceful and surrounded by old fruit trees and a community garden. Inside, the quiet facade falls away to reveal towering rows of shelving units and carts full of toiletries and non-perishable goods. Volunteers sort donations in the back, stacking them together on the shelves. In the hall, tables are set out with fresh vegetables, bread and canned goods, ready for the people to arrive.

“We do a once-a-week pickup, and you can get a small supply of non-perishable, canned goods. If you were a single person, that would be five items. Plus, a rice or pasta … then there would be a litre of milk, half a dozen eggs, a selection of produce, and a protein. This week was cheese and canned beans.”

Since its start in 2001, Harvest House has been feeding the smaller communities around Chemainus. “We do what’s called a Stop and Shop. … We set up tables, and then people come in to do their own shopping. We do that in Crofton on Mondays. … Then on Tuesday morning, we do Penelakut at the youth centre over on the island. We go over, set up tables, [and] set up the food, [and] people come in and select what they need. Then Thetis is Thursday, and we do Chemainus on Tuesday evening and Friday morning.” Premade hampers can also be ordered online and either picked up or delivered as needed. Monetary donations and government funding are used to purchase the much-needed staples, but it’s a team effort to feed the community. They receive regular food donations from local businesses and citizens, support from other food banks like the Ladysmith Resources Centre Association and Loaves and Fishes, and financial donations.

While there are executives on staff, the organization is largely run by volunteers. “We currently have about 60 active volunteers. … We have open positions, especially for people who can lift.” A lot of their volunteers are retired and no longer have the strength to lift the food boxes or tables that are required for the weekly outreaches.

Local food banks are always asking for help, both in donations and volunteers. It’s one of the best ways to make a difference in your community. For information on how to help, visit the Harvest House website, and if you’re hungry, come and eat.