Discussions

Over the last couple of days news outlets in Winnipeg have been carrying the story about the urgent need at Winnipeg Harvest for food stuff to keep the work they do going ...  
 
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/manitoba/story/2010/05/18/mb-winnipeg-harvest-donations-winnipeg.html  
 
This is NOT a problem limited ONLY to Winnipeg. Samaritan House in Brandon, and the food banks in the outlying areas across WestMan are facing a similar challenge keeping their cupboards stocked.  
 
Next Saturday Samaritan House, in conjunction with a number of community partners (Investor's Group, Westman Journal, PhysioFirst, Kuipers Family Bakery, Obermaier's Neelin, The Lions Club, Sobeys, KX 96, and The Farm) is holding the annual Food First Campaign that makes donating simple ... Next week in the Westman Journal you will find a yellow plastic bag. On Saturday May 29th, fill the bag with your donations of non-perishable food items (cereal, canned veggies, soup, pasta sauce, rice, pasta, etc) and place it outside on your door step.  
 
An army of volunteers will canvass the community and pick up these donation for Samaritan House and their food support work. Today at Samaritan House, the demand for food support is 50% greater then it was last year at this time. The number of families on the roll represents 11% of ALL households in Brandon (over 2600 households look to Samaritan House for help) and they try to survive on just over $100 a month after paying for their housing expenses!!  
 
AND - over 45% of ALL people seeking help from Samaritan House and Winnipeg Harvest are CHILDREN.  
 
So this coming week when you're grocery shopping consider buying some extra non-perishable food items that you can donate in the bins at MOST of our local stores, or that you can place out on your door step next Saturday. OR make the trip downtown and visit Samaritan House in person and make your donation of time, talent, or money directly ...  
 
Winnipeg Harvest, Samaritan House and the other direct support agencies are in DESPERATE NEED of help to meet the demands that keep increasing!!  
 
Despite debates about the causes and the effects of poverty around here - real people are struggling and real people need food to live - the simple reality is that the vast majority of people who seek help at places like Samaritan House are not scamming the system, and they are not just lazy - they are POOR and can't make ends meet!!!