DAWSON CREEK -- The St. Mark’s Food Bank in Dawson Creek used to see 25 to 30 new people a month. Now, that number has gone up to 5 new people per day.
As the cost of food rises, more and more people are struggling to afford groceries. And both families and local charities are feeling the impact.
“I couldn’t even believe – just a few items and I was paying $300 and something,” says Dawn Wolf, the manager of St. Mark’s Food Bank and Soup Kitchen.
Since last year, grocery costs have risen by 9.7% - the highest increase since 1981. Grain staples have been among those hardest hit, with bread prices rising by 12.2% and pasta up by 19.6%.
Fresh fruit and meat have also risen by 10.0% and 10.1% respectively over the past year.
At St. Mark’s, there’s some concern about how they’re going to keep up.
“Because of the rise in the clientele and the visitations, we are starting to run lower and lower and lower, which is kind of worrisome,” says Wolf.
A big reason for the rising costs is due to both Russia and Ukraine being major wheat exporters. Statistics Canada says the war has put pressure on food products that contain wheat.
The rising cost of gas is also having a big impact. Another factor is bad weather in growing regions in Canada, along with rising input costs for farmers.
Mike Bernier, the MLA for Peace River South, says the provincial government needs a strong plan to help out with the cost of fuel and farming supplies.
“I’m hearing from a lot of people in the region that they may not even plant a crop this year because they’re worried about the weather, the fuel, the increased costs, the taxes,” says Bernier. “If people don’t plant crops, we can only see our food prices go even higher.”
So far, the food bank has been able to continue on from the large donations they received in December. They have been able to fill their tables and the food hampers they give out. But if prices continue to rise, they may have to cut back.
“We might have to just shorten on the supplies that we put into the hampers,” says Wolf.
