Resources at an Esquimalt meal hall are under strain as staff tackles the greatest need for their services theyB次元官网网址檝e seen in a decade.

Typically, VictoriaB次元官网网址檚 Rainbow Kitchen Society would see a few new faces a month at its 500 Admirals Rd. community hall. Now, it is seeing a new face every day.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e seeing folks who maybe had an extra couple of dollars to donate are now joining us as guests,B次元官网网址� said executive director Patrick Johnston.

Igne Rozee, the societyB次元官网网址檚 longest-serving volunteer cook, said daily demand for hot and free meals for young families jumped from 100 to 300 last month. SheB次元官网网址檚 never seen anything like it in her decade in the kitchen.

Food Banks Canada reported the combination of 2021B次元官网网址檚 rising housing and food costs, pandemic job cuts and the retraction of federal government support created a perfect storm. An inevitable B次元官网网址渢idal waveB次元官网网址� of clients B次元官网网址� one-third of them children B次元官网网址� has fallen on food banks across the country.

More than 1.3 million Canadians visited a food bank last March in a 20.3 per cent increase over March 2019, the organization reports. Funding and stock for Rainbow Kitchen to meet the massive uptick has come mainly from local donors and grocery partnerships.

B次元官网网址淒onations (through the holiday season) last year were very abundant. Generosity came from COVID,B次元官网网址� Johnston said.

Johnston said that since clients canB次元官网网址檛 eat in the hall during the pandemic, meal packaging has heightened expenses and the workload on its 200 volunteer staff.

B次元官网网址淕etting there a little earlier, cooking a little earlier and making sure it can all get sent out for a noon lunch B次元官网网址� itB次元官网网址檚 a huge change,B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淚t comes down to us budgeting (supplies) as much as we can,B次元官网网址� he continued. Because of the extra work, Johnston said he hasnB次元官网网址檛 had the capacity to launch a full-fledged fundraising effort.

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A lack could mean the end of the societyB次元官网网址檚 school meal program, which provides 2,000 breakfasts to two local schools, or its Meals on Wheel delivery service for clients with accessibility needs.

B次元官网网址淭hese are your neighbours, your community, and theyB次元官网网址檙e hurting more than theyB次元官网网址檝e ever hurt before,B次元官网网址� Johnston said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e lucky that we can provide B次元官网网址� we have a great team that will show up every day to make it happen. (But) I need those cans of beans, that rice, and those extra dollars to help us survive this next chunk of time.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hopeful for an ending to this, but we donB次元官网网址檛 know if itB次元官网网址檚 happening any time soon.B次元官网网址�

Rozee herself said she was let go from her position as a cleaner at a local hospital. The Rainbow Kitchen has since helped her with supplying her produce.

B次元官网网址淚t would be great to live in a world where we donB次元官网网址檛 need Rainbow Kitchen,B次元官网网址� Johnston said. B次元官网网址淏ut we need us more than weB次元官网网址檝e ever needed us before.B次元官网网址�

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