Background

This past summer, I spent over seventy hours volunteering with Food Banks Mississauga. The inspiration for the role originated from my mandatory Social Determinants of Health (HS1002) class. I chose to volunteer with Food Banks Mississauga specifically because of its unique nature. When I think about a food bank, I previously pictured shelves lined with food and a more grocery-store-like setting. The location where I volunteered instead was the corporate office of Food Banks Mississauga, which meant I was able to observe the back-end work of running a food bank and provide food for those who need it. Food Banks Mississauga offers many services. They have a Food Bank 2 Home program that offers free delivery to those experiencing food insecurity but unable to physically come to food banks to obtain food. This may include those living with disabilities, full-time caregivers, etc. Food Banks Mississauga conducts yearly surveys for clients onboarded in the Food Bank 2 Home program to collect data to make annual improvements to its system and to get feedback on staff, deliveries, and food items received. Moreover, there are many volunteer opportunities for individuals or groups, such as an afternoon food-sorting event. It was not uncommon for me to be sitting on shift and see groups of dozens of corporate workers coming in for team building, and to give back. Food Banks Mississauga continues its outreach out of office on social media. They have an incredible marketing team that pushes content on their website and on platforms such as Instagram. These updates the public on the initiatives Food Banks Mississauga is involved in, and reports on food insecurity in the city.

My experience

My role at Food Banks Mississauga was a community intake assist volunteer. This meant that when someone came into the office looking for food, I would either sign them up for the Link 2 Feed platform we used or, if they were a returning food bank user, log in to their existing profile to update their information and check their status. Usually, there would not be a long wait, with one or maybe two clients ahead of those who just arrived. I would take the clients into a secluded cubicle and then begin. I went through their personal information with them, such as address, number of people living in the home, employment status, etc. This was to not only ensure everything was updated but also to better tailor their needs. For example, if a person who resided in Brampton, ON came to Food Banks Mississauga, I would inform them of the food banks and pantries in their area. While reviewing their information, I would learn how many people resided in the home seeking food and ask whether the client needed any additional social support. This social support usually came in the form of additional information. If a client was seeking assistance with childcare or employment, we could inform them of job fairs or affordable childcare resources. The results of the social support search would either be emailed to the client or communicated directly. It was not uncommon for me, in one four-hour shift, to hand out pamphlets on free tax clinics or the new Canadian Dental Care Plan. However, in talking with the clients, their need for support sometimes went beyond what we could formally offer. It was in these moments that I learned the most about my role, because I had to help them in the ways I could, rather than what I was explicitly told to do. I had one client come in looking for used electronics. As this was not your typical sought-after social support, together we did some research to find him a solution. I directed him to secondhand websites, such as Facebook Marketplace and Kijiji, and guided him through that process. I think going above and beyond to help the food bank clients can increase comfort levels and trust between the client and the volunteer.

After the initial process of onboarding clients or signing into their Link 2 Feed, and assisting the clients with any further needs within my scope, I would hand over a tablet with a list of available food items for that day. To my knowledge, previously, when people came into Food Banks Mississauga, they would be given a generic box of non-perishable foods. The reason for this was the nature of the location where I volunteered. Given that it was a corporate office, there was not always much foot traffic from clients who needed food, so the box was a safe alternative to turning anyone away without food. However, in recent years, tablet listing available foods has been offered. This came with a lot of positive feedback from clients. Although the list of foods was still non-perishables, it gave the clients a sense of choice and autonomy. They appreciated being able to pick what they were actually interested in. The list was available in many languages and tailored to food allergies or preferences, making it more accessible to the general public. If any food items the client had selected were unavailable, it was within my role to ask whether they wanted any alternatives, and they would accept or decline accordingly.

After the food items were selected, I would go into the warehouse, collect all the requested items, and bring them out to the clients, who were then sent on their way. I learned a lot from my time at Food Banks Mississauga. From a corporate perspective, I learned how many people it takes to successfully run a Food Bank. From food sorters, marketing teams, the Food Bank 2 Home team, the volunteers, and delivery drivers, it operated more as a well-oiled machine. The staff at Food Banks Mississauga were incredible, and despite being in an office setting, still maintained a lot of client interaction in phone calls and surveys. The client-first aspect of the food bank shone through in everyone's work. Personally, I learned a lot about the people in my community. I think when volunteering at a food bank, an easy assumption to make is that people are looking for food and nothing more. In my hours volunteering, I saw instead that it was quite the opposite. Most people came in willing and ready to share stories and make connections. As soon as a client sat across from me, they were telling me of their life, many were new immigrants trying to provide for their families, some had injuries that led to chronic illness, forcing them out of work, some had just lost their job, or been kicked out of their home. It was not information that they were required to share with me, but I got the sense that many of them felt obligated to tell me why they were there. I think it was in times like those that I stopped and reflected; most of the clients had already assumed I would judge them or look for an explanation. Of course, this was not the case, but knowing this, I was able to approach every conversation with a sensitive lens, and one of listening and understanding. I also felt inclined to share some stories about myself or my family. I believe this swapping of stories leads to mutual understanding and trust. I often heard from clients about my kindness and how much more comfortable they felt leaving the food bank than when they first arrived. For me, these lessons are ones I still carry with me, and they enable me to foster safe, comfortable environments with those around me.

Food banks as a charity model to combat food insecurity

The clients themselves were incredibly kind to the staff and volunteers. Nearly every second word they spoke was a thank-you, praising how we were able to accommodate them. Food banks themselves follow a charity model to combat food insecurity in Canada. This charity model offers immediate relief and support, but addressing the root causes of food insecurity is not within the scope of a food bank setting. Still, the work of a food bank is incredibly meaningful. At Food Banks Mississauga, the staff and volunteers are tirelessly working to ensure clients are treated with utmost dignity and respect. This comes from having accessible tablets with lists of available food items that are tailored to language and dietary needs. It is also present in access to information on additional social support and in bringing the clients to a safe, secluded area, away from the office setting, to make the experience as comfortable as possible. Additionally, their social media outreach and ongoing client feedback through annual surveys are just some of the ways Food Banks Mississauga leads with a client-first approach. While these are valiant efforts to support food-insecure individuals in the community, they cannot be the cog for change without additional support. To me, the root causes of food insecurity stem from rising food costs, low incomes, and high unemployment. These are systemic issues that go beyond putting food in a bag. These need to be addressed at higher levels of government to make food accessible to everyone. It is a fundamental human right that must be upheld. Food banks offer a temporary solution, but while they are widespread and accessible, food insecurity remains highly prevalent in Canada and around the world. To fully support and initiate this change, food banks need systemic change.

More initiatives

In the face of a lack of further support for food banks, many have adapted their models to better meet client needs. One example of this is the switch to a “grocery store” model, where food bank users access a food bank like a supermarket, with a shopping cart and a check-out. I think this can normalize a food bank setting and increase independence in food bank users. Some examples of these models being utilized are at Brunswick Street Mission food bank in Halifax or Feed the Need in Ontario (Food First, ND). Many more food banks and pantries are following suit, whether adopting a “grocery store” model or a client-choice model, to shift the conversation from giving to giving with. This is a strategy to promote equity in a food bank environment, ensuring users get what they need in a safe way that ensures client autonomy.

Conclusion

My volunteer work taught me compassion, empathy and what it means to be a good listener. It is important to reflect on our own food situations, be grateful for what we have, and always share what we can, whether that be in time or resources. I learned about listening first to establish a solid foundation of trust. I reflect on how, in my time with those in my community, I learned so much about other people, their culture and their lived experience in Canada. It is knowledge that I will carry into my future endeavours, and it is curiosity that I will foster throughout my life. In this experience, I have also gained a deeper understanding of how other food banks and pantries work and seen how this client-choice model can shift the conversation to one of equity and inclusivity, rather than a rigid charity model. Food Banks Mississauga continues to do incredible work, and in all aspects of my volunteer role, I saw the efforts to make access to food more equitable for those in Mississauga. This effort cannot be ignored, but the call for change must be made to those in greater power than ourselves, to our governing bodies, and to policymakers; their support must be in tandem with food banks' efforts to combat the rising issue of food insecurity in Canada.

Photo by Nico Smit on Unsplash