By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban
West Island Mission is now in a state of emergency, forced to limit its Christmas holiday distribution to existing clients only.
The food bank is not closing its data base to new clients entirely — however, it cannot take on the holiday season, only clients this year that it would normally serve in addition to its regular clientele.
The number of persons depending on WIM’s service has grown by 63 percent since last year, from 250 to 400 food bank users. WIM’s Executive Director Suzanne Scarrom told The Suburban that 35 per cent of the clientele are seniors and that the organization has noted a significant increase of single persons and new arrivals.
As the non-profit operates with the good will of donators, and as inflation has hit the Canadian population as a whole, those previously in a position to give some or a little either can no longer afford to donate or must limit their donations to keep their own households afloat. “The belt is tighter on the side of donators, we are going on two years of inflation. Not everyone can afford this anymore and others, with time passed, just accept as this is as ‘what life is like now’ and no longer view this as a crisis,” Scarrow explained. “It is never a good feeling to say no and turn people away, but right now, we also need to maintain our commitment to our existing clientele to provide adequately for the holidays.”
Scarrow explained that the current challenge is not new and has existed since the pandemic hit, but with a lowered response to the organization’s requests coupled with the increasing demand, WIM has been backed into a corner for this upcoming holiday season and had to make a very painful and difficult decision in order to fulfill its promise to the 400 families that it currently supports on a regular basis.
WIM’s toy drive will take place next Sunday, November 10 and its Porch to Pantry drive will take place on Sunday November 24. The organization is also currently setting up a centralized kitchen in partnership with Meals on Wheels at its new location on Brunswick Boulevard in Dollard-des-Ormeaux.
Since the start of 2024, Moisson Montreal, which supports the majority of food banks in the Greater Montreal Area (GMA) at various capacities, has served over one-third of the three million requests for food assistance in the province, on a monthly basis. n