Below are some of the misconceptions about how the food bank works.
People that use the Food Bank are lazy and just don't want to work.
Myth...
The majority of our clients are working members of the society or
suffering from severe illness that disables them from having a full time
long term job.
The Food Bank is not keeping track of its clients so there is a lot of
abuse.
Myth...
Our administration team keeps track of all clients through our
membership program and computer database. Although there is client
abuse of our services it is less than 2% of our total client intake per
month. The LFB also works very closely with other food organizations in
Lethbridge to ensure that clients are only receiving one hamper per
month, by trading stats on a daily basis.
Food Banks are government funded and volunteer run, so why are they
always asking for money?
Myth...
Food Banks are not government funded. In fact Lethbridge has one of
the only communities in Canada that has more than one food bank
locally and receives funding at a municipal level. The funding we
receive is less than 5% of our total annual operating costs which means
we rely heavily on public and private donations, fundraising,
volunteering at bingos, grocery store donations and community support.
Volunteers are also hard to come by and provide only about 1% of the
manpower a year it takes to run the organization.
The Food Bank is handing out food to the homeless and they are trading
it for drugs and alcohol.
Myth...
Although we do assist the homeless in our community, it is not with
food hampers, but supplements that can be carried in their pockets. This
is because the homeless do not have access to cooking facilities which
is required for the bulk of contents in our hampers. We try not to send
them away hungry so we will handout bottled water, granola bars and
other snack type foods. We can't control what they do with those
snacks, but our mandate is to feed the hungry so that is what we strive
to do.
With Alberta being so rich with money and work, there is no need for
Food Banks.
Myth...
Unfortunately we are seeing an increase in numbers of clients even
though Alberta is booming. This is because the cost of living is rising
and the entry-level position wage has not caught up. According to
Statistics Canada, the average monthly family income needs to be
almost $4500 for a family of four, in order for them to meet their basic
needs.. That means if both adults are working they need to be making
over $14/hour with full time hours.
Food Bank staff is hoarding food and keeping the best stuff for
themselves.
Myth...
This is absolutely untrue! As food supplies come in we have to first sort
it and make sure that it is up to our standards. We then take inventory of
what we have and make a guess of how long it will last. We then put
aside certain items that can be given out at specific times of the year, or
store it until it can be properly broken down for maximum distribution.
People that use the Food Bank are lazy and just don't want to work.
Myth...
The majority of our clients are working members of the society or
suffering from severe illness that disables them from having a full time
long term job.
The Food Bank is not keeping track of its clients so there is a lot of
abuse.
Myth...
Our administration team keeps track of all clients through our
membership program and computer database. Although there is client
abuse of our services it is less than 2% of our total client intake per
month. The LFB also works very closely with other food organizations in
Lethbridge to ensure that clients are only receiving one hamper per
month, by trading stats on a daily basis.
Food Banks are government funded and volunteer run, so why are they
always asking for money?
Myth...
Food Banks are not government funded. In fact Lethbridge has one of
the only communities in Canada that has more than one food bank
locally and receives funding at a municipal level. The funding we
receive is less than 5% of our total annual operating costs which means
we rely heavily on public and private donations, fundraising,
volunteering at bingos, grocery store donations and community support.
Volunteers are also hard to come by and provide only about 1% of the
manpower a year it takes to run the organization.
The Food Bank is handing out food to the homeless and they are trading
it for drugs and alcohol.
Myth...
Although we do assist the homeless in our community, it is not with
food hampers, but supplements that can be carried in their pockets. This
is because the homeless do not have access to cooking facilities which
is required for the bulk of contents in our hampers. We try not to send
them away hungry so we will handout bottled water, granola bars and
other snack type foods. We can't control what they do with those
snacks, but our mandate is to feed the hungry so that is what we strive
to do.
With Alberta being so rich with money and work, there is no need for
Food Banks.
Myth...
Unfortunately we are seeing an increase in numbers of clients even
though Alberta is booming. This is because the cost of living is rising
and the entry-level position wage has not caught up. According to
Statistics Canada, the average monthly family income needs to be
almost $4500 for a family of four, in order for them to meet their basic
needs.. That means if both adults are working they need to be making
over $14/hour with full time hours.
Food Bank staff is hoarding food and keeping the best stuff for
themselves.
Myth...
This is absolutely untrue! As food supplies come in we have to first sort
it and make sure that it is up to our standards. We then take inventory of
what we have and make a guess of how long it will last. We then put
aside certain items that can be given out at specific times of the year, or
store it until it can be properly broken down for maximum distribution.
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Lethbridge Food Bank Society
Serving The Community For 25 Years
Food Bank Myths
