7.8 Proclamation Brantford Food Bank, Thanks for Giving Municipal Food Drive - September 26 - October 31, 2015

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1 RESOLUTION DATE: SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 TO BE READ BY COUNCILLOR ANTOSKI: 7.8 Proclamation Brantford Food Bank, Thanks for Giving Municipal Food Drive - September 26 - October 31, 2015 WHEREAS the reduction and elimination of hunger is essential to the overall health and well-being of our community; and WHEREAS meeting the nutritional needs of citizens in our community is essential for a vital and vibrant community; and WHEREAS the Community Resource Service, Brantford Food Bank provides an important and necessary service to our community; and WHEREAS people helped by the Brantford Food Bank include families, youth, seniors, adults and children, including employed people whose wages are not sufficient to cover basic living essentials, unemployed individuals who cannot find employment, individuals on social assistance, and people living on a fixed income, including people with disabilities; and WHEREAS an average of 2,782 people in Brantford and area are supported by emergency food services of the Brantford Food Bank each month; and WHEREAS the Brantford Food Bank supports an additional 26 meal, snack and food programs; and WHEREAS the Brantford Food Bank provides almost 800,000 pounds of food and grocery products to those in need in our community; and WHEREAS the Thanks-4-Giving Municipal Food Drive, supported in the past by the Corporation of the City of Brantford, has brought in over 152,000 pounds of food to the Brantford Food Bank over the past 7 years; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Corporation of the City of Brantford PROCLAIMS September 26 - October 31, 2015 Brantford Food Bank - Thanks for Giving Municipal Food Drive Month in the City of Brantford and encourages all businesses, citizens and families to take part by running and hosting food drives and by making individual and family food donations to the Brantford Food Bank for its duration.

2 COUNC. R. WEAVER COUNC. J. SLESS COUNC. G. MARTIN COUNC. C. ANTOSKI COUNC. B. VAN TILBORG COUNC. D. NEUMANN COUNC. R. CARPENTER COUNC. D. McCREARY COUNC. J. UTLEY COUNC. L. KINGS MAYOR C. FRIEL YES / NO : : : :

3 1100 Clarence Street S., Suite 102 Phone: HELP (4357) Fax: Brantford, ON N3S 7NB Website: crs-help.ca September 11, 2015 His Worship, Mayor Chris Friel City of Brantford, Brantford City Hall 100 Wellington Square P.O. Box 818 Brantford, ON N3T 5R7 PROCLAMATION OF Hunger Awareness Week September 21 September 25, 2015 & PROCLAMATION OF Brantford Food Bank, Thanks for Giving Municipal Food Drive, September 26 - October 31st, 2015 Dear Mayor Friel, Each and every month many families and individuals in our community need the support of the local food bank and local food programs to ensure they have enough food to feed themselves and their families. This year, we would ask that the City of Brantford help us support two initiatives that increase community awareness about hunger and provides an opportunity for the community to learn more about this important issue and encourages those who have the means to help us ensure no one goes hungry in our community. Hunger Awareness Week is about raising community awareness about the solvable problem of hunger in Canada. Food banks across the country hold events to tell the story of the work they do, and the stories of hungry Canadians assisted by food banks. Food Banks Canada, along with its provincial members and food banks across the country, are asking all Canadians to mark Hunger Awareness Week - to make a positive impact on the issue of hunger across the country. As the local member of the Ontario Association of Food Banks, and the local affiliate organization to Food Banks Canada, we ask that the City of Brantford help us recognize and raise awareness about this very important issue. Canadian Food Banks have been helping more than 700,000 people each and every month for the better part of the past 15 years. In 2014, close to 850,000 people were assisted each month by a food bank in Canada. Of those helped, 37% were children and 90,000 turned to a food bank for the first time.

4 In Brantford, we currently are supporting an average of 1,150 households each month, this represents an average of 2,782 people on a monthly basis. We are also supporting over 26 meal and food programs in our community. This important work means that families and individuals, who have little or no food, have a place to turn to for help. Almost 800,000 pounds of food and grocery product moved through the Brantford Food Bank this past year. The need is great. Too many Canadians and local families do not have enough income to pay for rent, bills, and clothing for growing children, transportation, medication and food. Food is unfortunately one of the most flexible household expenses, and it is often nutrition that suffers when money is tight. Hunger in Canada is a significant issue. This is why it's so critical to dedicate a week to talk about it and work together to make a change. Hunger Awareness Week, September 21 25th is a week for communities and individuals across Canada to take action in reducing hunger. We ask that the City of Brantford recognize this week with a proclamation to declare September th, Hunger Awareness Week in Brantford. Locally, we will be launching our annual City Wide, Thanks for Giving Food Drive on September 26 th at the Brantford Farmers Market. This food drive will run for the entire month to October 31 st. We want to encourage our community to help their neighbours, ensuring that no one in our community goes hungry. We will be collecting food donations all month long, tallying our results and hope to raise 25,000 pounds of food to provide to individuals, seniors and children who rely on our services each month. As an organization that provides a wide range of services to people in need, we see the many reasons why individuals might need our Food Bank. Unemployment, leaving an abusive relationship, mental health concerns, disabilities, fixed incomes, there are many reasons why someone might use the Food Bank. We don t want hunger in our community, but until the time comes when everyone in our community has enough, our services will be needed. Local food donations help us ensure we can meet the demand for our service. We respectfully ask that the City of Brantford proclaim September 26 th - October 31 st the Thanks for Giving, Municipal Food Drive Month in the City of Brantford, and encourage our community to make food donations to support the Brantford Food Bank to reach its goal of 25,000 pounds of food collected. Thank you, and City Council, for your ongoing efforts to support our work. Together we can ensure no one goes hungry in our community. Sincerely, Heather Vanner Executive Director

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