Salvation Army Food Banks Are More Than Just a Service

Ella Watkins, food bank client
by SalvationArmy.ca
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Food banks are often seen as places where people in need can come to get food to survive, and, while this perception may be true, it doesn’t paint a full picture of the further benefits these places can bring to their clients.

Ella Watkins, a client of The Salvation Army’s food bank in Fort St. John, B.C., thinks of the food bank as her community.

“There is a whole community of nice people that help and support each other.”

“I like coming to talk to people. There is a whole community of nice people that help and support each other here in the food bank,” Ella said.

Ella has been coming to the Fort St. John food bank since 2018. She not only comes for support, but it has become a place where she can socialize and offer advice to fellow clients. She likes to drop by daily to share a cup of coffee with her friends within the food bank’s community, which includes staff and clients.

Ella’s tough upbringing inspires her to want to help others with their challenges, as she has had to face uphill battles of her own since her early teenage years. As a victim of physical and sexual abuse, Ella was forced to leave her home at the age of 13. She had problems with alcohol throughout her 20s.

“I just want to help others and keep my head up,” Ella said.

Ella is an integral member of the Fort. St John’s food bank community. Melanie Mason, community ministries supervisor at The Salvation Army in Fort St. John, has known Ella for some time. Melanie describes Ella as someone who always has a smile on her face, and who is willing to help anyone.

“She’s a giving woman with a huge heart that feeds on helping others. She often comes to just be a part of the ‘community’ that we have at the food bank,” Melanie said.

Having a sense of community within the food bank allows staff such as Melanie to get close and get to know their clients better. This allows them to find out what other needs they may need in addition to food services. In Ella’s case, she has been able to take part in other Salvation Army support programs, and most recently Melanie was able to find her a place to live.

“To hear my assistance with her application got her a home where she can comfortably live, made me happy.”

Due to being on long-term disability, Ella was having trouble getting accepted by renters. As a result, she lived in a hotel room before Melanie was able to find a place for her. Melanie says that external economic factors in the region, have also made the rental market less accessible.

“The cost of rentals up here (Fort St. John) is equal to Vancouver, as is the price of gas and food, but not the wages. So, to hear my assistance with her application got her a home where she can comfortably live, made me happy,” Melanie said.

With inflation rising across the country, food banks are expected to experience increased demand. According to a recent Salvation Army survey, one in two Canadians faced food security challenges last year.

“In the Fort St. John food bank, we always welcome donations of time, food or money. A bulk of our work is completed with the compassionate help of our volunteers. Food is always a worry since we serve over 600 families a month with a grocery shop model that requires a good selection of all dietary needs,” Melanie said.

As for Ella, she feels grateful to the staff at the food bank for the help she has received. Her friends from the Fort St. John’s food bank community will continue to look forward to spending time with her and having her smile brighten their days.

 

By Juan Romero and Melanie Mason