THUNDER BAY – Volker Kromm says in reality, food banks are not sustainable
It’s especially true in Northwestern Ontario, where a variety of factors are at play, including Indigenous movement from Far North communities in search of a better life, mental health and addictions, disabilities and just plain bad luck on the job front.
But the head of the Regional Food Distribution Association says they’re not giving up. Far from it, in fact, Kromm said.
The RFDA, which is being asked to do more and more with no increase in funding and limited staff, says it plans to model itself after the United Way moving forward, adding it can no longer operate independently and still serve the needs of its 45-plus member organizations.
Kromm delivered that message on Monday night to city council, telling the elected body that they’ve begun a consultation process with health-care and social assistance service providers in an effort to make better collaborations that improve community wellness and add to the regional economy.
At this time all the RFDA asked of city hall was support of the idea of forming a central multiple service hub, that falls within the organization’s emergency food mandate, but also connects them to the above-mentioned regional partners.
“As we move down this road, looking at what we should be doing with our partners, with our RFDA members and where we should be going, this is an opportunity for us to say we’re moving, we’re changing, we’re evolving and I think the city council has been extremely supportive over the years and this is our opportunity to keep them in the loop,” Kromm said.
As of yet, the RFDA has yet to ask for any funding, but said they will return in the future for building permits and administrative resources, noting they could also return with a financial ask.
“Do we know exactly where we’re going? No, it’s something that’s evolving and as an outcome of a (recent) workshop, a few priorities are starting to crystallize,” Kromm said.
“Some of them are healthy – changing to healthy food, holistic health care. As (Eabametoong First Nation) Chief Harvey (Yesno) said, we have to embrace a more holistic approach to taking care of those people who are at the bottom of the poverty level in our community or are suffering in some measure with mental health or addictions,” Kromm said.
“We are just the food piece and our job is to support all of our members and where they are going with whole care.”
Partners include a variety of organizations, from the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre and St. Joseph’s Care Group to the Salvation Army, which is putting the finishing touches on its Journey to Life Centre.
Council kept its questions to a minimum on Monday night, though at-large Coun. Peng Yu did share a story of growing up in poverty with little to eat.
“I like the hands-up approach,” he said.
Mayor Bill Mauro, on the other hand, asked for specific policy recommendations, to give council a handle on what might be needed from the city moving forward.
“In my previous life,” the former Liberal cabinet minister said,” we looked hard for policy pieces that helped organizations like yours, for example the tax credit for the (agricultural) community.”
Kromm responded there just aren’t enough small farmers taking part in the program, and added a return to the basic income pilot project at the provincial level would likely result in a decreased use of food banks in the region.
