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Volunteer Evadney Collymore checks the low stock on the shelves at Fonds de Depannage Ouest

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• Roxboro

Food bank shelves bare, lines getting longer

Agencies seeing effects of hard times, more people looking for help

JASON MAGDER
The Gazette
Thursday, November 20, 2008

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Volunteer Evadney Collymore checks the low stock on the shelves at Fonds de Depannage Ouest

Long lines and bare shelves at the West Island Assistance Fund, are proof the effects of the economic downturn are hitting the most vulnerable segment of the population.
“We have more demand, and fewer people donating,” said Suzanne, a worker at the West Island Assistance fund, who didn’t want to give her last name. “Our shelves are bare.”
Located in Roxboro, the food bank has seen longer lines recently, and more people than usual signing up for Christmas baskets, Suzanne said, while fewer people are offering donations of non-perishable food.
At the West Island Mission, which hands out food supplies to about 350 families mostly in Pierrefonds and Dollard des Ormeaux, there hasn’t been a decrease in the amount of donations they receive, but more people are asking for help.
The mission is run by volunteers who collect money and non-perishable goods and then deliver food on a weekly basis, and during the holiday season.
“We have noticed a significant up-tick in demand in the last little while,” said Darren Sleep, the president of the organization. “We have been getting calls from people asking for support, not only for our Christmas baskets but also for our weekly deliveries.”
Sleep said with the increase in gas prices, and the increase in demand, he has noticed the mission’s regular donations aren’t sufficient any more.
“The funding we get doesn’t go as far,” he said. “At this point, we haven’t turned anyone away, but we have had to delay helping some people, telling them that we can’t do it this week, but maybe next week. If anyone out there is feeling generous, we really need it.”
The food bank is one of many charities facing difficult times in recent weeks. At NOVA West Island, organizers are concerned because the organization depends entirely on individual donations and receives no government funding.
Formerly the Victorian Order of Nurses, NOVA provides care for palliative patients in their homes, and services for patients with cancer and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

Jane Lumsden, director of NOVA West Island, said so far the group is on track to reach its goals for the annual fundraiser, though she would not say what that amount was.
“We’re in the middle of our annual fundraiser and it seems to be on track,” Lumsden said. “But we did notice that in a few of our other events that there was a decline. In our annual golf tournament, we noticed some people had cut back their participation.”
At West Island Community Shares, the effects of the slowdown have not yet shown up on the charity’s balance book.
“We just sent out our mail for the annual fundraising campaign, so we won’t really know until the holidays how much money we’ll be getting in,” said Caroline Tison, executive director of WICS. “But so far, our response from the business community has been excellent.”
WICS raises money as an umbrella organization for more than 20 West Island organizations.
About 27,000 residents depend on the services provided by those groups, including 5,000 senior citizens and 8,000 children.
“We can’t let the groups down,” Tison said. “If there is going to be a recession, then we will have to work harder to get donations.”
This year WICS has hired a communications co-ordinator to help increase the organization’s visibility, and Tison hopes that will result in many new donations.
She said it’s difficult to forecast how the charity will be hit, but she understands there is a limit to how much people can donate.
“After the Tsunami (of 2004), we saw a five-per-cent decrease, because people were giving money to help people overseas,” Tison said.
Despite the “economic craziness,” Tison said people should try to support those who are in dire straits.
“Sometimes we don’t realize that there are a lot of people in need,” she said. “We have 12.5 per cent of West Islanders living below the poverty line. We’re talking about families with three children, trying to get by with an annual salary of $25,000. It’s not easy.”