OUR
IMPACT
REGINA'S LARGEST DIRECT SERVICE PROVIDER
SUPPORTING THOSE FACING FOOD INSECURITY.
Regina Food Bank is Regina’s largest direct service provider supporting those facing food insecurity. Addressing the food is our first step as part of being a hub of collective impact, connecting people with the community partners and their programs that will help meet their needs wholistically. Our relationships in the community and food support to hundreds of other agencies means we can work collaboratively towards solving the problem of food insecurity in Regina.
Food insecurity is a serious health problem in Canada. It is linked to poor health, and is a barrier to psychological, social, and emotional well-being. As we move away from the acute effects of Covid 19 the economic effect of inflation is creating increased demand for the supports the Regina Food Bank provides. In Saskatchewan, more than one in ten households and 19 per cent of children experience food insecurity those numbers continue to increase everyday. Since Regina Food Bank’s founding in 1982, we have evolved from a short-term solution to a key partner in Regina’s ongoing fight against food insecurity. We are committed to making sure the voices of those we serve, our agency partners, our donors, and our volunteers are included as part of a culture of continuous improvement.
VOLUNTEER
& STAFF
10,943
VOLUNTEER HOURS
FUND CONTRIBUTION SOURCES
$3,019,339.98TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES
$1,350,097 SPENT ON PROGRAMMING
FOOD
HAMPERS
PROGRAM DISCUSSION
The Food Hamper Program is the core activity of the Regina Food Bank as we fight hunger and feed hope. Food Hampers are designed to meet the needs of people facing food insecurity today. Hampers are delivered both directly by the Regina Food Bank and through our network of over 120 community partners.
Those we serve can receive a Food Hamper every two weeks and is an assortment of food items providing seven to ten days’ worth of food based on household size. The composition of each hamper strives to meet Canada’s Food Guide. We have introduced choice options in the form of a vegetarian and halal option in addition to our standard hamper offering.
CAUSES
Food insecurity in Canada continues to be prominent. As per data collected between 2015 and 2018, in the Regina region has seen the percentage of marginal, moderate or severe food insecurity rise from 13.7% to 15.3%[1]. This insecurity is currently being affected by Regina’s unemployment rate, reaching 7.3% in February 2021[2]. Low household income, which can be created by unemployment, remains a leading cause of food insecurity but economic pressures due to increasing cost of living in fiscal Q4 creating increased food insecurity[3]
[1] Tarasuk V, Mitchell A. (2020) Household food insecurity in Canada, 2017-18. Toronto: Research to identify policy options to reduce food insecurity (PROOF).
[2] https://dashboard.saskatchewan.ca/business-economy/employment-labour-market/unemployment-rate
[3] Food Banks Canada, “HungerCount 2021,” Food Banks Canada, Mississauga, 2022.
EFFECTS There are a number of negative outcomes related to food insecurity, including poor physical and mental health, and increased risk of chronic diseases (e.g., diabetes, hypertension, heart issues, etc.), which creates a drain on the Canadian health care system.
WHO IS AFFECTED The Food Hamper Program is designed for individuals or households that cannot access food due to financial constraints.
OUTPUTS
AND OUTCOMES
Food Hampers provide clients in temporary emergency situations with seven to ten days worth of food and when possible referrals to outside organizations. Food is provided to low-income and food insecure residents of Regina. We connect clients with community resources that can address the underlying issues of food insecurity. 7% of clients are referred to other community agencies.
GOALS The goals for the Food Hamper program are to be within 10%, plus or minus in the coming fiscal year. Our goals in 2021/22 was impacted by the 1) continued fall out of Covid 19, which was included in planning, and 2) economic pressures caused by inflation, which was not.
LEARNINGS
We participate in numerous program evaluation activities that have led to several learnings:
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The voice of the people we serve are available to provide more feedback about their experiences and we should heard be included in data collection methods.
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As part of soliciting client feedback on service delivery model we learned that access to a personal vehicle, owned, borrowed, or receiving a ride, was much higher than anticipated. This effected the number of food deliveries targeted for drive through pick up.
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Internal resources needed to be re-deployed in order to fulfill our goal of creating choice in hamper composition. As we continue to emerge from Covid 19 protocols we will seek new avenues to continue to expand client choice.
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Internal review has triggered planning for a roll out of new hamper composition by household size.
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Multiple client surveys were conducted to collect clients’ feedback on their experiences to gain in-depth understanding of their perspectives. These perspectives continue to inform our decision-making.
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We are in the process of determining a criteria that can be used to strengthen partnerships with available community resources to ensure best possible support outcomes for those we serve.
DESCRIPTIONS
AND DEFINITIONS
UNIQUE CLIENTS
This is calculated by counting all members of the household only once, irrespective of their number of visits to the program.
POINTS OF SERVICE
This is calculated using the total number of individuals who are supported and include those who make multiple visits to the food bank in a year.
REFERRALS TO AGENCIES
A referral out is where a client, calling into the Regina Food Bank, is provided with information about community supports that can help address their underlying root cause of food insecurity. Clients may receive a referral at anytime they call our call centre, they do not necessarily have to book an hamper in order to receive a referral to an agency.
CLIENTS HELPED BY AGENCIES
A critical part of the Emergency Food Hamper program’s theory is that the clients build connections and receive referrals to available community services for their needs.
WHAT’S IN A
HAMPER?
Based on the Canada Food Guide, food hampers contain a balanced variety of food including fresh dairy, fresh and frozen protein, fresh and canned vegetables, shelf stable dry goods and breads and grains. They contain seven to ten days food, and a hamper typically contains the following content:
Canned Soup x2
Canned protein x3
Dry pasta x2
Crackers x1
Cereal Bars x 1
Cookies x1
Fresh Vegetables (3 types)
Fresh fruit (2 types)
Dairy x3
Protein (approx 2lbs)
Bread x1
Pastries x1
Misc x 2
AGE BREAKDOWN
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Children 47,647
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Adults 59,711
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Seniors 13,012
NON-FOOD
RECLAIMATION
PROGRAM DISCUSSION
The Non-Food Reclamation Program partners with retail partners to act as a centralized distribution hub for non-food products. The program provides non-food products from essential hygiene products to the household items including cleaning essentials, kitchen & food storage to school supplies and baby products to agency partners to make sure these products are distributed in the community in the most effective way possible. This year we enrolled nine new partner agencies into our program, bringing our total number of local partners to 113.
Increases in non-food distribution continue to mirror increases in food distribution as demand continues to rise. Distribution this year was the second highest on record and represents a 10% increase from 2021.
To meet the needs in our community we effected a significant switch in a delivery model for non-food reclamation. We shifted much of the dedicated staff allocation away from the program and folded much of the operations into the general warehouse. Assisted by a significant increase in volunteer hours we were able to increase the amount of product that went out into our community by 10% while reducing dedicated staff allocation by almost 94%.
CAUSES While addressing the immediate food needs of those facing food insecurity is the mission critical activity of the Regina Food Bank, we have been able to create a supply chain for non-food items. By distributing these items in the community, we can create additional supports for those facing food insecurity by sourcing and distributing product and reduce over expense burden on a individual or household.
EFFECTS By provide goods with along with the provision of food we can support greater autonomy in those we serve. For some it means that staple non-food items are available that would otherwise be unattainable, for others it allows for a shift in spending patterns as household items are available to them.
WHO IS AFFECTED Agencies that support and distribute non food items to population in need. Unlike the Food Hamper Program, the Retail Reclamation program does not directly connect with the food insecure population receiving the hampers. We work with agencies that are based in Regina and work cooperatively to get products out to the people in need in our community. We rely on qualitative reporting by the agencies accessing the program to evaluate the impact. According to the reporting by the agencies, the largest segment of the target population that received product are categorized as moderately or severely food insecure.
OUTPUTS
AND OUTCOMES
The Non-Food Reclamation Program food insecurity by providing the short-term relief of hunger to those living rough. The root causes of long-term hunger are also addressed as clients are given hampers by organizations which provide support for individuals experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness. The food acts as a connector and allows agencies to work with individuals to transition them out of poverty. This program reduces poverty by relieving some financial and mental strain on those living rough, and allowing individuals to use the funds and resources to move into a stable shelter situation. We collaborate with 12 non-profit agencies that are working with the homeless population.
GOALS The goals for the Non-Reclamation Food program are to be within 10%, plus or minus in the coming fiscal year.
We are projecting for 2021/22, the total pounds of product distributed to be between 146,026lbs and 178,476 lbs with an anticipated growth of four partner agencies.
SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES By supplying no food products both individuals and organizations can allocate resources to efforts that create greater autonomy and capacity for those facing food insecurity.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES Creating a hunger-free community.
LEARNINGS
We participate in numerous program evaluation activities that have led to a number of learnings:
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There is an emergent need for non-food product in the newly landed population, most distinctly among refugees. The scale of our product availability can be a great asset in settlement activities as our new neighbours join our community.
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Every product has a use for someone! Don’t discount or place a label on the use of an item as it holds value for someone. When I sign up a new organization, I always tell them “Your imagination is the only thing that will hold you back”
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Products have incredible flexibility when grouped effectively. For example creating packages of equipment needed for cooking classes and giving it to participants can be a more empowering way to distribute than dispersing the individual tools.
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The Reclamation program has potential to be a key enabler to effective distribution of bulk food products that can be effectively used by community partners but are present barriers to household use.
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Be open to change to meet the needs of the community. The program evolves and changes to meet the volume of demand.
FINANCIAL
LITERACY
PROGRAM DISCUSSION
The Personal Financial Management Course provides an opportunity to increase financial literacy and develop knowledge, skills, and confidence to make financial decisions that fit with your life. The course is made of three main sections: Budgeting Banking & Credit/Debt.
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Budgeting: Participants will experience activities designed to build knowledge of the value and process of budgeting. Each participant will develop or revisit their budget, based on their unique financial needs, wants and circumstances.
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Banking: Participants will be introduced to the fundamentals of banking and the basic tools and guiding principles to assist them with their banking experiences.
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Credit/Debt: Explores the importance of building good credit, how to avoid credit crisis, debt repayment strategies and how to repair credit history.
The program is offered online, providing learners with a flexible learning experience to complete the course at their own pace.
CAUSES Food insecurity, not having consistent access to adequate food for active, healthy lives for all household members, is most common among low-income households. However, income alone is not sufficient to explain who experiences food insecurity. studies investigating the relationship between financial literacy and food security find that low-income households who exhibit financial literacy are less likely to experience food insecurity.
Food insecurity may manifest with a switch to less costly, less nutritious food or reduced total consumption of food for some or all household members; at its most extreme individuals will go without food for an entire day or days. Regardless of household income, those who fail to smooth spending between pay periods and who lack access to credit may struggle to ingest adequate food intakes throughout the month (Zaki, 2014).
Even high income households can experience food insecurity if income is uneven throughout the year (Nord and Brent, 2002; Gunderson and Gruber, 2001). Furthermore, Gunderson et al. (2011) find that unemployment is a strong predictor of food insecurity. However, those with higher degrees of financial literacy might be more likely to hold savings that could protect them from this instability and help them avoid food insecurity.
Poverty and Food insecurity are complex problems with many causes. Financial empowerment is one pillar of opportunity to support some people who live with food insecurity. Complex problems often require a multi-prong approach of support.
EFFECTS A financial empowerment approach to poverty reduction helps low-income people participate and feel included in Canadas financial system. It increases their opportunities and knowledge and fosters behaviours that are critical to their economic security and their ability to invest in their future.
WHO IS AFFECED Anyone can be affected by food insecurity, those with higher risks of any food insecurity are younger age groups (children, 16-24 and 25-34); non-white identity; low levels of education; unemployment; life-limiting health problems or disabilities; incomes in the lowest income quartile.
OUTPUTS
AND OUTCOMES
GOALS GOALS To provide online financial literacy training to low-income community members who utilize the Regina Food Bank or any of their partner agencies.
SHORT-TERM OUTCOMES Participants in the program acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to make responsible financial decisions.
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More control over your personal finances when you understand financial basics, which can lead to more overall confidence, as finances affect everyone’s life in every way.
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More control means possibly less debt as you have a better sense about the impact of debt on your budget, cash flow, savings, credit report.
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Understand the importance of saving and starting to save as soon as possible, even if it’s just a small amount.
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More likely to set financial goals for yourself and have the desire to work toward those goals, which often means putting off the wants of today to save for the needs of tomorrow.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES Creating a hunger-free community. Greater participation in the economy.
LEARNINGS
We participate in numerous program evaluation activities that have led to a number of learnings:
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Many of the participants in the program do no have access to key pieces of documentation required to access programs such as tax benefits. Pre pandemic made an effort to connect people with basic forms of identification including birth certificates.
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The pandemic created barriers to in person programing but engagement in online delivered programing was higher than anticipated.
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Programing flexibility is a key component of meeting the needs of participants. Moving toward core fidelity elements instead of curriculum standards has made the program more adaptable and better value to participants.