Salvation Army Food Bank Helps Newcomers with Culturally Appropriate Food

Moving to a new country can be a daunting experience. There are challenges and changes you have to adapt to. Although most immigrants come to Canada for a better life, there are always aspects of your home country that you may miss. One of these is the food.

As more newcomers settle around Northern Ontario, The Salvation Army food bank in Sudbury plans to integrate more culturally relevant foods. This will help families to have a smoother transition.

“We are seeing more clients coming in to access the food bank who are newcomers to Canada.”

“We are seeing more clients coming in to access the food bank who are newcomers to Canada, and we haven’t traditionally had the kinds of foods that they are accustomed to having in their diet available or being donated to the food bank,” says Lieutenant Miya Bradburn.

As the food bank prepares to offer a new selection of food items, Lieutenant Bradburn and her team have developed a survey to get feedback and get a sense of what to add to the food bank when the time comes.

For Jonathan Kouadio, a current client of the food bank, this initiative shows a commitment to inclusivity. Originally from Ivory Coast, Jonathan has found it hard to find affordable options for the meals he used to consume back home.

“I applaud The Salvation Army’s efforts to add international food. This is a great way to help integrate immigrants.”

“The food we are accustomed to eating is very different than that of Canada. So, I applaud The Salvation Army’s efforts to add international food. This is a great way to help integrate immigrants,” Jonathan said.

Just like most food banks across Canada, The Salvation Army in Sudbury sees constant need.

“We are finding that more people are having to come on a month-to-month basis. Whereas before, they may not have needed to come every month,” Lieutenant Bradburn added.

Incorporating new food items can benefit all members of the food bank by increasing availability and providing healthier options.

“These food items will be something that can be offered and included in anybody’s food hamper. What we are finding from these surveys is that a lot of the food that is being requested is less processed and more nutritional,” Lieutenant Bradburn said.

Meanwhile, The Salvation Army in Sudbury has been approved for extra funding through Food Banks Canada to provide more diverse food options. As they wait for their initiative to get underway, The Salvation Army in Sudbury encourages the community to support them to ensure no one goes hungry.

“People are still welcome to bring in their donations. We always accept financial donations as well. We can make those dollars stretch further. When we receive a donation and we know there’s a sale on the thing at our neighbourhood grocery store, then we can purchase that at a bigger volume,” Lieutenant Bradburn said.

By Juan Romero