Smiths Falls food bank cuts off access to residents of two seniors homes

Article content

“We recognize that with the current affordability crisis, many are one missed paycheck away from needing food support. As a result, the Ottawa Food Bank does not make policies to prevent people from accessing a food bank, in an effort to reduce undue hardships for our community,” communications manager Alison Murphy said.

Article content

Smiths Falls mayoral candidate Nate Morris said the problem facing the small-town community was nuanced. He said he was sympathetic to the fact the food bank was faced with rising food costs and increased demand while donations were at an all-time low.

Article content

“I am not looking to assign blame to an organization faced with difficult decisions about how those limited resources are allocated,” he said.

Article content

But, after speaking with residents of these two facilities, Morris questioned the food bank’s defence that the building residents were not allowed to store food.

Article content

“That is simply not true,” he said. “For me, this issue is symptomatic of a broader affordability crisis in which the rising cost of food is creating very real food shortages.”

Article content

Morris said his deeper concern was why residents would need to rely on the food bank when these facilities were responsible for providing them with adequate food.

Article content

Article content

“If residents are not receiving enough food, or are relying on the food bank to supplement what is being provided by the facilities, I think we need to understand why and take steps to ensure that sufficient food is being provided.”

Article content

He said if he’s elected mayor, his focus would be on identifying why that gap existed and making sure it was addressed.

Article content

“I feel strongly that, at the public-policy level, we need to be proactive and open-minded in finding better ways to meet the nutritional needs of our most vulnerable citizens,” he said.

Article content

In its latest year-end report, the Smiths Falls Community Food Bank said it served an average of 957 clients per month, 35 per cent of them being children. This included 717 different households and 11,488 total individuals. That worked out to a 200-per-cent increase in a five-year span, council heard at the time.

Article content

Another mayoral candidate, Peter McKenna, who’s worked in health care and social services for all his adult life, said he also understood the pressure facing the food bank. Rising demand and food costs are putting “tremendous strain on a volunteer-driven organization that depends on community donations,” he said.

Article content

Article content

“At the same time, I am concerned about making an entire group of people ineligible based on where they live,” he said. “Residents of adult supportive housing are among the most financially vulnerable people in our community. Many contribute virtually their entire income toward room and board and have little left each month for all other personal needs.”

Article content

Residents receive — and pay for — meals where they live, and McKenna said this “does not mean they are no longer experiencing poverty or food insecurity.”

Article content

The Town of Smiths Falls declared food insecurity an emergency in May 2025, and a report to council at the time said 25.8 per cent of households in the community faced affordability issues.

Article content

The food bank can’t be blamed for that, McKenna said.

Article content

“When charitable organizations are being forced to decide which vulnerable people they can still afford to help, that tells us the problem has grown far beyond what charity alone can solve,” he said.

Article content

Last month, McKenna brought together representatives from the food bank, The Falls Food Hub, town staff and Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute to discuss food security for vulnerable residents and students, and more meetings are in the works.