Answers to commonly asked questions

How can I donate?

Any donation is appreciated, whether it be food or money. Donations of cash (recurring or one-time) give us the most flexibility: we can purchase whatever is most needed and this also helps us offset other costs (such as insurance, electricity etc.). Donations of food are also important – that donated food goes directly to the people who need it. Whatever you are able to donate will help!

Why should I donate?

We understand that there are many worthy causes asking for your donations. The St. Stephen food bank is a last resort for many people who struggle to feed themselves and their families, so donations help us help some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Given the extreme financial challenges, so many of our neighbors and friends are in need or very close to it. Only donations made directly to us are available right away for us to use. Help us keep this vital service operational.

Does the St. Stephen Food Bank follow any rules or guidelines?

Yes, we operate under the Ethical Food Banking Code – Food Banks Canada. We encourage you to explore the Food Banks Canada website if you are interested, but some key points are listed here:

• Treat all those who access services with the utmost dignity and respect.
• Provide food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, income source, age, and mental or physical ability.
• Not sell donated food (note: this prohibits us from selling unused donations, even to raise money for other food or services)

Do people who ‘do not need help’ ever use the food bank?

Although it is possible that some people do access food banks when they don’t really need to, it is at most a very tiny portion of food bank use. We are not aware of any clients using our food bank in St. Stephen inappropriately, but even if we did suspect, we would still be required to serve them (note the Food Banking Code does not allow withholding services based on income or other reasons). We also believe strongly that it is far better to provide assistance when it may not be needed than it is to risk restricting access for people in need. The only way to ensure no individuals ever use the system inappropriately would be to completely disregard the dignity and rights of all clients. Our food bank serves some of the most vulnerable people in our region, and they deserve as much help as we can provide.

Does using the food bank allow people to become dependent on assistance, or make it so that they don’t feel like they need to work?

Food bank guidelines recommend 3 to 5 days worth of food per month. To put that in perspective, that is 36 to 60 days per year, leaving more than 300 days per year without food. Food banks can only supplement other sources of food, not replace it, so there is no way anyone can survive simply by depending on food banks.

What about people with addictions?

It is certainly true that some food bank clients do suffer from addictions. This does not (and cannot) impact the services we provide, according to the Food Banks Canada ethical code. Addictions are not within the scope or influence of the food bank, but we are aware that desperation, lack of hope and hunger are likely to increase the chances of someone developing an addiction, and once started, makes it more difficult for a person to escape it. Our role at the food bank is to provide food services that hopefully complement the services available at other organizations that do deal with homelessness and addiction issues. We also believe that everyone, even people with addiction issues, deserves food and dignity.

In summary, the ability to help those individuals who need it most remains a priority. We can’t restrict that assistance based on fear of someone getting more than they absolutely need.