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Food Bank Need Rises

A recent report by the Ontario Association of Food Banks says more singles and seniors are having to turn to food banks for help.

Locally, the Inn of the Good Shepherd has also seen an increase in more young people relying on the food bank due to lack of employment.

Executive Director Myles Vanni says they've also seen a spike in the number of residents attending the daily meal offered at the Inn.

"Eight years ago we were averaging about 85 people a day at the meal and right now we're averaging about 115 people a day at the meal," says Vanni.

"A lot of those that are those younger people and those singles that just haven't got the work and are forced to come in for the meal, and it's such an important role we play because for many its going to be their only hot meal they get today, for too many it will be the only meal."

The Ontario Association of Food Banks says overall slightly fewer people went to food banks this year, about 359,000 compared with 375,000 in 2014, but it says the number of visits went up by about 10,000.

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Photo by Sarah Joy via Flickr

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