Poverty a Growing Concern for Community
Judy Dancause

Thank God Spring is finally in the air! This past winter has been long and cold. Heating costs, fuel expenses and low wages combined with few benefits have made it a difficult year for many in our community.

Low income and no income families have really struggled to pay the bills and find money to eat. Approximately 850 adults and children are now receiving assistance with free groceries each month in our Food Bank. In addition, we are serving over 2,000 meals each month in the Soup Kitchen. Not to mention the huge number of people we are helping each month with free clothing, furniture and household items through our Thrift Shoppe. For a little while last winter, we actually ran out of blankets and pots and pans to give to people in need! Thankfully, the community quickly responded and we were able to assist everyone with a need.

Food Banks are no longer just for people on Social Assistance. The sad truth is that the number of working poor coming to the centre has grown tremendously over the past year. The working poor now account for a third or 30% of all our clients - compared to about 8% over a year ago. This is a pretty scary trend. People working full time hours, do not have enough money to provide for their families fully. A person earning $8.00 an hour (minimum wage is $7.15) working about 40 hours a week brings home about $265.00 each week which is just over $1,000.00 a month. Rent is usually $400.00 or more. Insurance is usually $100.00 or more. Fuel is $40.00 or more each week. That leaves $340.00 a month to purchase household necessities, clothing, and food. To be eating enough a family of four should have $100.00 a week to spend on food. It doesn't take a math wizard to know that many families in our community need a helping hand.

So what can we do to change this terrible trend? I don�t have an easy answer that will solve this global problem. An obvious answer would be to increase minimum wage; however, many small and medium sized business owners would have a very difficult time paying the increases and layoffs would certainly not help the situation. Until an answer is found, the Agap� Centre is here to help. Our mission is to reduce the impact of poverty in our community and we do this primarily through our Food Bank, Soup Kitchen and Thrift Shoppe.

A new way that many people recently helped the centre was a little different from our usual requests for food and clothing. A few weeks ago, the centre organized �Girls and Dreams� a program developed to help teenagers be able to afford to go to their high school prom. So far, the program has been tremendously successful with about 50 girls having found the perfect dress, shoes and accessories for them!

Community support for the program has been inspiring. Nativity Hall generously donated the use of one of their halls for us to hold our �Boutique� on April 5th & 6th. Over 150 beautiful dresses were donated! Several local stores donated makeup and perfume samples for all the girls and hairdressing salons donated prizes of free hairstyles! I have never received so many letters of thanks, from both the girls and their parents! Needles to say, there was lots of crying with tears of happiness in appreciation for this program. Low income families just do not have the money to splurge $100.00 or more on a Prom Dress. If girls in that situation can�t borrow something appropriate they normally don�t go which is really unfortunate because they will always wonder about it. If you know of someone who could benefit , it�s not too late. Girls can still come to the centre and find a dress. Dresses will be available until mid June, after which they will be packed and stored until next year.

If the number of people now coming to the Agap� Centre is an indication - Poverty is growing in this community. Prom Dresses aside, there are some really serious consequences beyond the food bank if this trend continues. Violence, abuse, mal-nutrition, and a homeless society are all likely to increase as poverty takes a stronger hold of the community. Not to mention greater demands upon our health care system. Hopefully, it is not too late to change this trend. Until an answer is found for difficult question of poverty, one thing everyone can do is look out for your neighbour. If you don�t have a neighbour that could use a helping hand, borrow someone else�s neighbour or help support your local food bank or soup kitchen.

There are any number of ways that you can help the Agap� Centre. You can make a financial donation; organize a food drive; donate food, used clothing, bedding, furniture or a prom dress; volunteer your time; or just be a caring person that will listen, without judgement, to the woes of someone in need. Donations can be dropped off at our clothing donation bins, located at numerous businesses in the community or call 938-9297 for FREE pickup of furniture and larger items. Our clothing bins our easy to identify as they are the white ones with the bright red roof, sponsored by the Kinsmen Club of Cornwall and local businesses.

The Agap� Centre is local people helping local people. If you can, please help us to help others and stop the trend of poverty.

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