WHO WE SERVE

It’s a 10-year-old who can’t concentrate in school because she didn’t eat last night. An elderly man whose diabetes is growing worse because he’s not eating properly. A frightened, pregnant mother who will give birth prematurely because her baby is so undernourished. Men, women and children.

Everyday people in Canada go hungry and it’s not just in the big city. It’s in Timmins and surrounding areas. The same thing is happening all over Northern Ontario.

The working poor who are temporarily in a crisis. Perhaps they’ve been victimized by layoffs or other life events beyond their control. Often they’ve already used up what little savings they have before asking for help. Many normally earn too much money to even consider needing public assistance.

But they’re still hungry.

In our area alone, over nine hundred individuals a month rely on food supplied by The Food Bank for their very next meal. Almost half are children. That’s 450 hungry children.

Just in Timmins an untold amount of children live with hunger. An astounding number of children live in poverty. Yet estimates say that everyday an astounding amount of the food produced in the Canada is thrown away.

There’s no shortage of food. And tragically, no shortage of hungry people. The answer is bringing them together. That’s what The Food Bank does everyday. .

WELFARE AND CHILDREN .

If you've wondered what impact Welfare Reform changes have had on children,you'll be interested in the various statistics pertaining to children's health. Most of these studies show that there is a direct link between welfare sanctions and children's health.Specifically, Infants and toddlers in families whose welfare benefits have been terminated or reduced by sanctions have approximately 90% higher risk of being hospitalized at the time of an emergency room visit than those in families whose benefits have not been decreased. Infants and toddlers whose welfare benefits have been decreased have almost 3 times the risk of being admitted to the hospital at an emergency room visit.

Families with infants and toddlers whose welfare benefits have been terminated or reduced by sanctions have approximately 50% higher risk of being food insecure than similar families whose benefits have not been decreased.

In 2001, infants and toddlers of Canada born families studied from across Canada have approximately:

o 40% higher risk of food insecurity compared to 1999.

o 30% higher risk of being underweight compared to 1999.

o 50% higher risk of being hospitalized during a n ER visit compared to 1999.

All studies show that government policy impacts our children and their future.

“I’m starving!” How many times have you heard people casually say these words as they consider their next meal? The availability of food just seems so automatic, as dinner follows lunch and lunch follows breakfast. But what if there is no automatic “next meal”?

Too many of us take food for granted. We only think of hunger in vague and abstract terms, believing it to be the province of children with swollen bellies in sweltering places a world away. Yes, hunger is a certainly global epidemic. The statistics tell a bleak and troubling story:

-One billion people worldwide face chronic hunger.

-Twenty-four thosand die of hunger daily,mostly children

-TEN'S OF THOUSANDS ARE HUNGRY.

Hunger can be a silent epidemic – hidden and hard to detect. That’s because your hungry friends, neighbors and colleagues are too proud to tell you. There they are, nonetheless, quietly seeking assistance from the many hundreds of local hunger-relief agencies we supply. Their hunger may have been triggered by the death of a loved one or the loss of a job. Indeed, many of us are just one “bad break” away from hunger’s devastating reach.

Here’s the tragic irony. There’s plenty of food out there. It’s always been a question of getting enough of it through political and economic obstacles and into the mouths of hungry people. Still we wonder why so many people go to bed, school or work hungry in the richest, most advanced civilization in human history. We ask ourselves every day, where is the humanity, where is the outrage in a society awash with food that simply can’t or won’t distribute it more equitably?

We may sit back and think about how well our lives are going but what about those who are on the brink of or have lost their homes due to job losses or maybe the life at home isn't the greatest and some kids are forced to run away and seek somewhere else to live. No matter what the reason these people need our help right now.

With your help we can make a difference whether it is a few extra groceries or maybe a few articles of clothing or furniture to make a life more comfortable. We invite you to help us with your financial contribution so we can make a difference in their lives.We know we can't do everything, but we must do something. At Timmins Street Reach we can help the needy and the lonely. We can have a drop-in center where people can come just to have someone to talk to and get the support they need or we can help them in other ways.

FOOD DRIVES

Everyday, people in our community suffer from the pain and debilitating effects of hunger. By sponsoring a food drive, you provide quality meals to more than 21,000 Mid-Southerners a week who depend on The Food Bank for their very next meal.

How to Hold a Food Drive

Below are the basic steps to follow when organizing a food drive.

• Announce the food drive well in advance so people can plan to bring non-perishable food items. Then publicize the food drive through posters, meetings, memos and publications.

• Involve as many employees/members as possible and get them excited about the food drive.

• Set the beginning and ending dates for the drive.

• Set a collection goal and try to get everyone involved in reaching that goal, i.e. 2-5 cans per person for a total of X number of items.

• Provide an appropriate receptacle to collect donations. Boxes or barrels work best. Place these containers in a centralized, visible location that is convenient for your group.

• Identify group members who will deliver the food to The Food Bank when the drive is over or arrange a pick-up in advance for large donations (200 lbs. or more).

• Deliver food to The Food Bank between 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

MOST NEEDED ITEMS

Here’s a list of The Food Bank’s most needed items:

. Canned fruits.

. Peanut butter / Cheeze whiz.

. Kraft Dinner.

. All pastas.

. Spaghetti sauces.

. All types of canned soups.

. Canned meats, including tuna.

. Canned milk.

. Canned stews.

. Canned vegetables.

. Powdered milk.

. Canned juices.

You can also save us money by donating non-food items. These items include:

. Paper towels, plates, napkins, cups, plastic utensils.

. Toilet paper.

. Bar soap.

. Dish soap.

. Any paper, cleaning or hygiene items.

. Tooth brushes.

. Tooth paste.

( Perishable items that can be frozen are also welcomed : milk, meats etc.) Keep them frozen and our drivers will pick them up when you call us..

Ideas to Enhance Your Food Drive

Here are some helpful hints to make your food drive fun and successful while achieving maximum participation from your members and employees. • Decorate boxes or barrels for food collection. They can be used later for transporting the food to The Food Bank. • Use flyers to publicize the drive and a suggested food list. • Provide regular food drive updates via newsletter, memos, news release flyers or posters to promote interest. • Visually display the food that has been received so that others will be encouraged to contribute. • Hold an event, meeting or party where admission is canned foods. • Provide organization members and employees with a bag to fill and return with donated items. • Encourage intercompany or interorganizational competitions and give special recognition to the group collecting the most food. • Give prizes for innovation or for largest amount of food collected.

For further information we may be reached at;

Street Reach Ministries of Ontario Inc.,

# 4 Partridge Road,

Timmins, Ontario,Can.,

P4N8R8.

1-705-268-6012

Come and worship with us and find friendship

amongst all people who gather together in His name

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