Share this Story : The Sarnia Observer Copy Link Email X Reddit Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr

Eric Bunnell's People: A record number of mouths

The St. Thomas-Elgin Food Bank is experiencing the impacts of growing food insecurity in the region

For a fourth consecutive year, the St. Thomas-Elgin Food Bank is on track to feed a record number of mouths.

Now halfway through the year, the food bank has fed more mouths during the first six months of 2026 than ever before, Sarah Coleman, operations manager, said this week.

Eric Bunnell's People: A record number of mouths Back to video

“We have another record set. Last year at this point in time, we had fed 13,281. This year, we have fed in the same time, 14,448. . . . That’s a significant jump: 1,200 more mouths.”

The jump means the food bank will likely set a usage record for a fourth year in a row.

After a record 2025, “I think we’re going to serve probably 3,000 to 4,000 more than what we served last year. Last year, we fed 24,949. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to think we’re going to do about 28,000.”

(The food bank allows clients to claim a hamper of groceries every 21 days; in food bank record-keeping, one mouth fed represents one person fed during that period and who, if they return in a subsequent 21 days, are counted again as another mouth.)

Sarah blames an increasingly high cost of living, which is forcing even dual-income households to seek help with groceries.

“When you go to the grocery store and when you see the difference in price, most products have gone up at least a dollar per product. If you’re buying 50 products a week, you’re paying $50 more out of your budget, and that really does add up.”

She also notes that supports like Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program and seniors’ pensions aren’t keeping pace.

This week, health units across Southwestern Ontario issued a joint concern about increasing food insecurity in their jurisdictions, which they said has a direct impact on public well-being.

They said as many as one in four households have to make hard choices like paying rent or buying groceries.

And they said things have to change, calling for:

Increasing social assistance rates, including Ontario Works;

Improving income supports for low- and modest-income households; and

Implementing policies that reduce the cost of housing and essential living expenses.

Sarah points to another issue: that persons receiving support from Ontario Works face a clawback if they earn more than $200 a month working.

Sarah says that’s a barrier.

“The whole goal of Ontario Works is that you can eventually get back into the workforce.

“But if you only earn $200 per month and then they start clawing it back, what kind of incentive does that offer? You’re not building relationships with future employers if you’re only showing up for one or two........

© Sarnia Observer