Food For Change Report Asks for Dignity For All

Tuesday, 15 December 2015 07:39

The Social Planning Council of Oxford is challenging everyone to rethink the way we look at food assistance programs.

A new report from the Social Planning Council wants to change the way we look at food assistance programs.

Executive Director with the Social Planning Council Oxford Ashley Farrar says the report titled 'Food for Change' outlines how people using the services are often hard working individuals who need to rely on the service due to the economic turmoil the nation is facing. "People are accessing food services who are actually working full time. And every year it's different people accessing it so it's not the same people that are continually needing support. It's people like you and I that have lost their job, or switched jobs and they no longer make as much and they need to access these services to support our families."

Farrar says there are so many other ways to provide food support programs and we should start looking closer at those alternatives instead of the old standby of a food bank. "Food banks were started as a short term solution and for some reason it's become part of our psyche that it's the right way to do it. There are many other options we can use and we hope in Oxford the community is with us and ready to move forward and provide food in a way that doesn't undermine people's dignity."

"We already have grocery cards here in Oxford County. It allows people to shop for food themselves and that has a very different experience," Farrar says these alternative can allow people to maintain their dignity while still getting the support they need. "There are other services - community food centres; Stratford has a great one called The Local that allows people to have emergency access to high quality food: it's dignified and doesn't compromise their self worth and lets people feel connected to their community and belonging."

The report also mentions how many of the foods found at food banks are high in sodium, sugar, and fat and do not meet most people's daily nutritional requirements.

To read the full report click HERE