Maryhouse to phase out food service

One of two emergency food programs in the city will likely shut down when a food bank opens in the city.

One of two emergency food programs in the city will likely shut down when a food bank opens in the city.

Maryhouse’s Kate O’Donnell said Wednesday the organization plans to shut down its food program when the food bank opens its doors, focusing its efforts on other initiatives in the territory.

“We are going to close,” she said, noting the Catholic organization’s presence in the territory was not intended as a food bank service.

The emergency food program began after Maryhouse came to the Yukon in 1954 and started operating a shelter. As the organization became more well-known, people seeking help would come looking for food.

The shelter closed in 1997, but Maryhouse still offered food to those in need.

“We continued to answer that need,” O’Donnell said, noting the Salvation Army also offers emergency food services in the city.

It was a few years ago that a director from the larger Madonna House organization came to Whitehorse and determined the emergency food program should close with the opening of a regular food bank service, which Maryhouse has neither the staff nor the facility needed.

O’Donnell said that while it will mean the closure of the formal food service that enables residents to come and get non-perishable goods twice a week, Maryhouse’s more informal assistance won’t end.

The two staffers will continue to respond to those in need of clothing and the like, and still offer its library to people.

There’s also a room available for those doing prayer and fasting, and staff are available for residents who need to talk. The organization also does other work in the community, O’Donnell pointed out.

Organizations like Alcoholics Anonymous, the anti-poverty coalition and others also make use of space in Maryhouse’s building.

As Maryhouse officials look at shutting down its food service, the Food Bank of Whitehorse Society is gearing up to open a regular food bank, asking for support from the city.

In a presentation to council at its standing committee meeting Tuesday, society representatives Shirley Adamson, Christiane Boisjoly and Stephen Robertson pointed to the need for a food bank.

Among the statistics Adamson brought forward to council, it was noted a 2001 national survey found that 21 per cent of northerners reported food being insecure compared to 14 per cent in the rest of the country.

Food bank use in the three territories shot up by 19 per cent from 2006.

From a financial standpoint, it was argued that social assistance (at $340 for a single person to $640 for a family) doesn’t even cover housing costs, with the average monthly rent in Whitehorse being $700.

With the Salvation Army offering one bag of food per family approximately every five weeks and Maryhouse paring its services from three days to two days each week, current services aren’t meeting the needs in the capital.

“We are not even in operation yet and we have been receiving phone calls from organizations such as FASSY and Kaushee’s Place asking when we will open,” Adamson said.

While emergency food services like Maryhouse offer non-perishables, the proposed food bank is looking at offering things like fresh produce, meat and dairy products, along with dry and canned food in an effort to help clients get proper nutrition.

“We also plan to respond to the cultural needs of first nations, by providing wild meat and fish,” Adamson said.

In augmenting other services in Whitehorse, it’s also planning to provide educational services to give their clients information on nutrition, how to shop and cook with limited resources, and cooking for health issues such as diabetes.

The organization has already received help from some non-profit organizations, Yukon Energy, Northwestel Inc. and the Rotary Club.

On Monday, it asked the city to also become a partner in getting the food bank going.

“We don’t want to see the food bank begging the city for resources; instead, we are looking at a partnership,” Adamson said.

As Mayor Bev Buckway, and later Coun. Doug Graham pointed out though, the city doesn’t have the mandate to fund social service programming like a food bank.

The city may be able to help in other areas, Buckway said, questioning whether a building has been found for the food bank.

Adamson noted negotiations are underway for a space to house the food facility.

Boisjoly also commented the organization could use a co-ordinator over the next six months as the organization continues to work on getting the food bank going.

Council made no promises on whether it would work with the food bank society. However, Buckway proposed later in the meeting that council have city staff come up with ways it can help while ensuring it doesn’t delve into a social services position it doesn’t have.

Coun. Doug Graham agreed with Buckway, adding though it must be made clear that social services are not in its mandate.

Coun. Dave Stockdale commented it works both ways, and suggested that along with the city looking at what it could do, the organization could also bring forward proposals.