Centraide of Greater Montreal will support 36 community organizations involved in the fight against food insecurity, with emergency assistance of $1.7 million. Soaring prices has affected many people in Montreal, including Park-Extension.
This sum should in particular allow organizations to buy more food to meet demand. The explosion of costs related to housing and groceries is creating enormous pressure on the community sector, explains Claude Pinard, president and general manager of Centraide of Greater Montreal.
The announcement comes as food prices continue to climb and many households are struggling to make ends meet. Grocery prices jumped 11.4% from the same period last year, according to data released Tuesday the 21st of February by Statistics Canada.
“When there is too little left in the pockets of less well-off people to buy food and their costs are higher, they no longer have a choice and must resort to the services of organizations to feed themselves. » said Claude Pinard, President, and Executive Director of Centraide of Greater Montreal
Food insecurity on the rise
Every month, nearly 671,000 people receive food aid in Quebec, or 34% more than before the pandemic in 2019, according to data from the organization. One in four people lives in a situation of food insecurity on the island of Montreal. More and more workers, the elderly, and solitary citizens, or others with reduced mobility, as well as asylum seekers and refugees, are turning to food aid, notes Centraide.
In addition, the shortage of volunteers and difficulties in recruiting staff complicate the operations of community organizations in the field.
