DARING TO CARE
Many more seek help from Sun Youth
By Joel Goldenberg The Suburban The number of families using food banks this year is especially high because of the continuing effects of the economic situation and clients who never needed help before, needing it now, says Sid Stevens, Sun Youth?s co-founder and executive vice-president. The two big issues are the ongoing recession and the flu pandemic, affecting both clientele and operations of food banks all over. ?It?s so bad among the food banks ? you have 650 in Canada and about a million and a half children who go hungry every night,? he says. ?Just food banks alone ? 800,000 people use food banks on a monthly basis, and 300,000 are children ? and at Sun Youth, one of every five that uses a food bank is a child. ?And it?s not just banks that are in trouble, so are food banks. Last year, two food banks closed, one in LaSalle and the other in Ahuntsic and some others have shortened their hours. We haven?t had that issue, because we addressed those needs in June of last year, and again in June this year.JONES
Cont?d from page 1 anticipation while some of the more senior victims ?are re-experiencing the pain as they know that they will not be able to buy gifts this year for their children or grandchildren which is hard on them.? In the new year, Davis is hoping to hear about tax breaks for the victims from both the provincial and federal governments who have yet to get back to the committee. ?The upcoming municipal tax bills are a problem,? Davidson said. She praised the city of Beaconsfield for deferring tax payments for the nine residents who were victims of Jones. ?No other municipality has followed suit which is a shame as this is a big issue for some of them.? But despite the major anxiety the financial blight has caused the victims, Davidson lauded their valiant behav- ?We had two campaigns a year? the first time in the history of the organization in 55 years that we had a campaign in May and June of last year and May and June of this year.... we always used to do one in November or December, and that sustained us for most of the year. Now whatever we do during the Christmas period keeps us going for about five months. Then, we need another campaign to tide us over until October.... Otherwise, we?d be turning people away. Our commitment is not to turn anyone away.? Stevens added that the flu pandemic, which could last until March or April, can potentially have an effect. ?It will affect our volunteer base, will probably affect our donor base and also the recipients. If a donor is sick, their priority will be to get well, not to write cheques to charity.? This at a time when the numbers of those newly in need are increasing. Stevens said statistics point out that normally, Sun Youth ?averaged about 1,500 families a month that we served. ?This past year, it has increased to 2,000 families, so we?re averaging 500 additional families per month... people aged 55 to 64 who are too young to collect a pension and too old to recycle in the job market, people who had their days cut from five days to three days, people who have been laid off waiting to get on unemployment, or some who have exhausted their unemployment insurance benefits. That?s what we are saying. But the economy is not the only factor in an increased demand for Sun Youth?s services. ?We?re also seeing an increase in the clients who are asking for Kosher food,? Stevens said. ?We normally do deliveries twice a week, but because there are so many shut-ins, so many people that can?t make it down to Sun Youth because among the Jewish population is an aging population, a lot of Holocaust survivors, so we do home deliveries. We?re increasing the home delivery base from two days per week to five days, and we?ll be delivering to about 150 to 200 people. ?This is relatively new ? as the population gets older, we?re getting more and more demands for home delivery. We?re addressing this as of January. Some organizations were able to address this need.? See SUN YOUTH, page 18 iour in the face of such ?personal and emotional suffering at the hands of deceit. They are all phenomenal and brave people.? Davis and the committee also want to speak to the financial institutions that did business with Jones as there might be a class action taken if the committee?s lawyers deem the choice to be wise. Davis told The Suburban that the SQ have finished their investigation and a lot more evidence has brought forth which will likely result ?in a lot more charges.? Davis added that justice will be served when ?Jones pleads guilty to all of the charges.? Davidson and the staff at WICRC will continue helping the victims who have had to adjust to ?a massive shift in lifestyle. When some people criticize the victims for getting a lot of attention, we explain that there is a major difference for these people who have paid taxes all of their lives and have never, ever asked for a handout before.? nEbenisterie Fidas Woodworking
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