"Food Banks Canada working to combat food insecurity in the summer"/ "Man who lived like pauper donates $11 million to charity"

May 31, 2017 "Food Banks Canada working to combat food insecurity in the summer": Today I found this article by Dave McGinn in the Globe and Mail:

Close to one million people – including more than 300,000 children – will rely on food banks across Canada this summer. But donation levels usually plunge this time of year, which can wreak havoc on families and others who suffer from food insecurity.

To combat the usual drop in donations throughout the summer, Food Banks Canada has launched #EveryPlateFull, a national fundraiser and food drive that runs until June 9. The Globe and Mail’s Dave McGinn spoke to executive director Katharine Schmidt about the campaign and the challenges of the season.

Why run this campaign now?

Summer is a particularly challenging time for food banks. Donations tend to fall and demand remains high. In some cases, it’s even harder for families over the summer.

Why is summer especially hard for families who have to deal with food insecurity?

One of the reasons is that school programs that typically have a breakfast or a lunch program – the kids aren’t in school and, therefore, they aren’t getting that extra food. Every meal makes a difference and the families really feel it.

And why do donations drop off in the summer?

We believe it’s primarily because everyone is out of their routines. People who are in a routine of buying an item or a couple of extra items when they do their weekly grocery shop and drop it in the food bank bin at the store, they’re on holidays, they’re doing different things, so they’re not making those regular donations. 

And then also, schools aren’t running food drives, [nor are many] places of business, places of worship. And so donations tend to dry up.

This summer, 918,000 people across Canada will use food banks. That is a massive number.

It’s huge. And that number is actually 26 per cent higher than it was before the recession hit in 2008. The numbers are up and they’re not declining, so food banks are constantly having to continue to serve their local communities at that high level.

What is the goal of the campaign?

We know that food banks will be providing 26 million meals over the summer. 

The goal of this campaign is three million meals, which means raising three million dollars. 

For every dollar that gets donated that will equate to three meals.

One dollar buys three meals? How is that possible?

It’s possible because food banks are very efficient. A lot of the support from food banks is done by volunteers, a lot of their food is donated, so that money is really leveraged through donated support and that’s why it goes as far is it does.

I think about the food bank a lot over Thanksgiving and Christmas, when there are so many reasons to reflect on good fortune, but to be honest it almost completely drops off my personal radar after that.

Hunger doesn’t take a summer holiday, unfortunately. We are looking for people to think about their fortune in the summer, and if they can give now before they go off on their summer holiday it would really be greatly, greatly appreciated.

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/health-and-fitness/health/food-banks-canada-working-to-combat-food-insecurity-in-the-summer/article35145995/

Comments:

TomKatt

2 days ago

How pathetic! On a daily basis our Liberal leadership "give away" billions of dollars internationally, adding to Canada's taxpayer and national debt burdens, but totally ignore the responsibility to care for poor Canadians! 

 Instead, the politicians transfer the responsibility to average taxpayers, really another form of taxation. After all, this way, the problem is being dealt with while they abuse the billions of dollars they are given to steward. "Charity begins at home!"

2 Reactions

geek_party

6 hours ago

Thanks to all the volunteers.



Jan. 5. 2019 "Man who lived like pauper donates $11 million to charity": Today I found this article by Sally Ho in the Edmonton Journal:

SEATTLE (AP) — Alan Naiman was known for an unabashed thriftiness that veered into comical, but even those closest to him had no inkling of the fortune that he quietly amassed and the last act that he had long planned.

The Washington state social worker died of cancer this year at age 63, leaving most of a surprising $11 million estate to children’s charities that help the poor, sick, disabled and abandoned. The amount baffled the beneficiaries and his best friends, who are lauding Naiman as the anniversary of his death approaches in January.

That’s because the Seattle man patched up his shoes with duct tape, sought deals at the grocery store deli at closing time and took his best friends out to lunch at fast-food joints.

Naiman, who died unmarried and childless, loved kids but also was intensely private, scrimping, investing and working extra jobs to stockpile money that he rarely spent on himself after seeing how unfair life could be for the most vulnerable children, his friends say.

They believe a lifelong devotion to his older brother who had a developmental disability influenced Naiman, though he rarely spoke of it. The brother died in 2013, the same year Naiman splurged on a sports car — a modestly priced Scion FR-S.

“Growing up as a kid with an older, disabled brother kind of colored the way he looked at things,” close friend Susan Madsen said.

A former banker, Naiman worked the past two decades at the state Department of Social and Health Services, handling after-hours calls. He earned $67,234 and also took on side gigs, sometimes working as many as three jobs. 

He saved and invested enough to make several millions of dollars and also inherited millions more from his parents, said Shashi Karan, a friend from his banking days.

Thrilled when he finally qualified for senior discounts, Naiman bought his clothes from the grocery store. He loved cars, but for the most of his life, drove beat-up vehicles and seemed to enjoy the solitude and savings of solo road trips, friends say.

After Naiman’s death, Karan realized how little he knew of the other aspects of his longtime friend’s life.

“I don’t know if he was lonely. I think he was a loner,” Karan said.

Many of the organizations benefiting from Naiman’s gifts said they didn’t know him, though they had crossed paths.

He left $2.5 million to the Pediatric Interim Care Center, a private organization in Washington state that cares for babies born to mothers who abused drugs and helps the children wean off their dependence. 

The group used some of what was its largest donation ever to pay off a mortgage and buy a new vehicle to transport the 200 babies it accepts from hospitals each year.

Naiman had called the center about a newborn while working for the state more than a decade ago, and its founder, Barbara Drennen, showed up in the middle of the night to get the baby.

“We would never dream that something like this would happen to us. I wish very much that I could have met him. I would have loved to have had him see the babies he’s protecting,” Drennen said.

Naiman gave $900,000 to the Treehouse foster care organization, telling them that he was a foster parent years ago and had brought kids in his care to the group’s popular warehouse, where wards of the state can choose toys and necessities for free.

Treehouse is using Naiman’s money to expand its college and career counseling statewide.

“The frugality that he lived through, that he committed to in his life, was for this,” said Jessica Ross, Treehouse’s chief development officer. “It’s really a gift to all of us to see that pure demonstration of philanthropy and love.”

https://www.apnews.com/7116c179308a4e8eb2a83693e4f3750a

Pediatric Interim Care Center:

About Us (picc.net)

Treehouse foster care organization:

Treehouse - Nonprofit Serving Youth in Foster Care (treehouseforkids.org)

My opinion: I was like "Oh my God, Alan Naiman is so kind and generous."  Well as long as he is taking care of himself and living within his means, then he can donate time, effort, and money."

These are the other 2 blog posts of the week:

"Remote work a choice, not a necessity, poll finds"/ "Working from home is permanently changing the way we travel"

Tracy's blog: "Remote work a choice, not a necessity, poll finds"/ "Working from home is permanently changing the way we travel" (badcb.blogspot.com)

"From corner stores to Frankenstores: Why the convenience industry is getting a massive makeover"/ "Hot dogs and cold beer: Four Edmonton 7-Eleven stores now selling booze"

Tracy's blog: "From corner stores to Frankenstores: Why the convenience industry is getting a massive makeover"/ "Hot dogs and cold beer: Four Edmonton 7-Eleven stores now selling booze" (badcb.blogspot.com)

My week:

Dec. 15, 2022 "Edmonton's regional transit plan is dead": Today I found this article by Lauren Boothby on the MSN and Edmonton Journal: 

Edmonton has backed out of regional transit, effectively killing the plan for the entire region.

In a tight 5-8 vote late Wednesday evening, Edmonton city council voted against paying the $13 million annually needed for the first phase of bus service operated by the Edmonton Metropolitan Transit Services Commission (EMTSC). The decision was made during debates to set the 2023-2026 operating budget.

During the meeting, councillors voiced concerns about value for money, and about becoming locked into a model many were not convinced is efficient and provides the best deal for Edmonton.

Mayor Amarjeet Sohi said he can’t justify spending taxpayers’ money on an unproven pilot, and that there is already a regional system in place that can be built on — such as the Arc card smart-fare system .

With the tax increase for the next four years already hovering around five per cent, Sohi wondered what else they would have to cut to pay for this “inefficient use of resources of which we will not get value for Edmontonians.”

“The things we have approved, in my mind, are more important than this financial hole,” he said. “I believe in regional transit, we need regional transit, and we can have regional transit, we can build on what we have, but we cannot afford a system with so much overhead.”

Edmonton's regional transit plan is dead (msn.com)

My opinion: That's fine. If you want to go to other places in Alberta, then there's the Red Arrow and Greyhound.

Dec. 13, 2022 "Calgary Airbnb host warns others to create safety plan after nightmare guest experience": This was on CBC and Yahoo: 

An Airbnb host in Calgary is warning other hosts to consider creating safety plans in case they're put in dangerous situations with their guests, after her life was threatened and part of her home was trashed by guests.

When Samantha Morahan received an instant booking through the app last weekend, she thought it would be a normal one-night stay. But it quickly turned into a nightmare.

Her partner was out of town and she was home alone when the man and woman arrived for their stay in her basement suite.

Morahan says she could immediately tell something was off, but depended on the fact that the guests' Airbnb account was verified — even though the account was new and had no existing reviews.

"This is a process that I had a lot of trust and a lot of faith in," said Morahan.

She was in her room when she could smell cigarette smoke coming from the basement. Morahan says when she sent the couple a message, and eventually went downstairs to speak with them, they repeatedly denied smoking.

It confirmed her bad gut feeling, she says.

So she decided to contact Airbnb for support, which gave her three options: ask them to leave, let them stay the night or call authorities to intervene.

"I was explaining to them that I really did not feel safe in my home. There was something seriously wrong with these guests and I want nothing to do with them after they leave," said Morahan.

Eventually, the police convinced him to leave.

When Morahan checked out the basement suite, she found cigarettes, damage to furniture, clumps of hair throughout the suite and blood on the walls, blankets and face cloths.

"It was so bizarre to be in your own home and not feel safe like that," she said.

Morahan and her husband have taken down their Airbnb account, but she says they'll honour existing reservations for people they've vetted and have had conversations with.

"But other than that, we've stopped our instant booking. We've stopped it all."

She says she wants other Airbnb hosts to trust their gut, thoroughly vet each guest that requests to book and don't be afraid to decline guests.

Calgary Airbnb host warns others to create safety plan after nightmare guest experience (yahoo.com)

Dec. 17, 2022 "Bugles have disappeared from Canadian stores, sending fans in search of a salty substitute": Today I found this article by Danielle Nerman on CBC: 

The disappearance of Bugles, an ingredient used in making many holiday recipes, has some Canadians searching for alternatives to the delectably crunchy corn snack.

Bugles are still sold in the U.S., but have been discontinued in Canada for several months — just one of the latest products American food manufacturers are no longer selling here.

General Mills, the U.S. company that manufactures Bugles, did not respond to CBC's calls or emails but has replied to hundreds of customers on Twitter, saying it hopes Canadians "can find a tasty substitute elsewhere."

That substitute could exist in the snack aisle of your local Asian supermarket, according to Canadian fans of Bugles on Reddit. It's called Tongari Corn — a salty, crispy, horn-shaped corn snack that's been made by House Foods in Japan since the 1970s.

Bugles not only U.S. snack to leave Canada 

Bagel Bites, a Kraft Heinz product, disappeared last month, along with Cosmic Brownies, Oatmeal Cream Pies and Swiss Rolls — the entire line of Little Debbie boxed treats, manufactured by McKee Foods Corporation. In an email statement, a spokesperson for the company told CBC the decision to "cease selling" the Little Debbie treats was not made by the brand itself but by its Canadian distributor.

Competition in the snack aisle

Another reason Bugles may have left the Canadian market is because the snack was facing too much competition from store-owned brands like President's Choice, Kirkland Signature and Great Value.

According to its 2022 annual report, most General Mills products compete "with generic and private label products that are generally sold at lower prices" and notes that economic uncertainty may push some consumers to purchase more store-owned brands. 

Bugles have disappeared from Canadian stores, sending fans in search of a salty substitute | CBC Radio

My opinion: I thought Bugles was an average snack.  I was surprised to read that Little Debbie's stopped selling in Canada.

I only tried a few of the brownies and snack cakes from them since last year.  They're good.

Nov. 30, 2022 "Debbie Downer: Little Debbie snacks no longer available in Canada": This is by Adam Frisk on CTV:

Little Debbie, Bugles discontinued in Canada | CTV News

Dec. 16, 2022 "Flying for the 1st time since the pandemic started? It doesn't have to be stressful": Today I found this article by Stephanie Hogan on CBC.  There were good tips:

Pre-boarding app

Most Canadians probably still associate the ArriveCAN app with COVID-19 vaccine documentation. But while proof of vaccination is no longer required to fly into Canada, the app is still being used, and the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it can get you through the myriad lineups much faster.

The app's "advance declaration" feature lets travellers enter their mandatory customs and immigration information up to 72 hours before they get to the border screening. 

Entering all of the information ahead of time will allow you to use express lanes in airports where they exist, as opposed to the regular lines to the self-serve kiosks. 

Advance declaration is currently being used at six major airports across Canada — Vancouver, Winnipeg, Toronto, Quebec, Montreal and Halifax. Three of those — Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal — also offer express lanes. 

Flying for the 1st time since the pandemic started? It doesn't have to be stressful | CBC News

Dec. 19, 2022 "Grocery shoplifting on the rise in Canada amid inflation, industry insiders say": Today I found this article by Sharif Hassan on BNN Bloomberg:

Inflation in food prices is one of the main drivers pushing more people to steal, says Sylvain Charlebois, senior director of the Agri-Food Analytics Lab at Dalhousie University in Halifax. 

“There is a correlation between the two, absolutely. Theft is an ongoing issue. But the intensity actually does increase when food prices go up," he said, noting that meat and dairy products are the top two stolen items.“If you see both food prices go up and ... the economy slows down, jointly that is when you basically see even more stuff.”

Charlebois said inflation and grocery theft are affecting one another, meaning when prices go up, shoplifting surges, and to offset the loss, businesses have no other option but to further increase the prices. 

Grocery shoplifting on the rise in Canada amid inflation, industry insiders say - BNN Bloomberg

"Walmart's plastic bag ban leaves some customers saddled with mounds of reusable bags": Today I found this article by Sophia Harris on CBC:

When Walmart banned single-use plastic checkout bags in April, customer Larry Grant applauded the move — until he found himself drowning in reusable bags.

Each week, Grant orders Walmart groceries for pickup at a depot near his home in Toronto. Due to the plastic bag ban, the retailer now packs his items in reusable bags — new ones for each order.

Grant estimates he has acquired about 300 over the past six months.

"It's a bit crazy," he said, pointing to a large pile of blue Walmart bags stuffed in the trunk of his car. "In a month, I can be accumulating anywhere from 40 to 50."

Walmart's plastic bag ban leaves some customers saddled with mounds of reusable bags | CBC News

My opinion: How about you bring your own old reusable bags and put the groceries into your old bags instead of taking the new ones?

6 HRS AGO

If he has an abundance of re-usable bags he could donate them to a food bank. They would gladly take them off his hands. I seriously question the re-use of polypropylene bags in the so called study. I have had mine for years and have used them hundreds of times and they still are in great shape. They hold far more than plastic bags and far more securely too. Never have the handle of the bag give out just as I get to the door.

Dec. 20, 2022 Productive: I went to a job interview at a bakery.  I got my dad to drive me there.  He waited in the car.  Today was -30 C.  Who wants to take the bus in this weather?  The interview was average.

After that he drove to Chinatown to pick up 2 food items from the grocery store.

When we got home I did the laundry.  I then shoveled snow.