Food Stash Volunteer and Rescued Food Box Member - Leslie
For Leslie, lack of food was a “constant reality” until she started receiving a delivery of fresh, rescued produce from Food Stash. For many, these deliveries of healthy food can make the difference between eating balanced meals, and going hungry.
“Food insecurity was a constant reality until Food Stash.”
- Leslie
Stability and Hope
Having suffered a spinal injury at work in 2006, Leslie faced food insecurity due to poverty until her entry into the Food Stash Rescued Food Box program.
In November 2021, Leslie got connected with Food Stash and started receiving a home delivery of healthy groceries including whole vegetables and fruits, meats and plant protein, and dairy. The Rescued Food Box program is for people with disabilities and/or chronic health concerns, as well as financial challenges.
“Thanks to Food Stash, we actually have a full fridge, not accruing debt for food we can’t afford, and I can even share with my roommate who faced job insecurity and was going hungry. I am so grateful to finally not go hungry.”
Leslie began receiving disability assistance in 2010 and learned firsthand the gaps in our social safety net and the realities of living in poverty, lacking access to food and other basic necessities.
“People with disabilities face a lot of hardship, but all of it is a lot harder to deal with when facing hunger as well. And even at the times you do have food, a lack of healthy food choices over a long period of time takes a huge toll on physical and mental health.”
While some individuals who are housebound have a friend or family member that can pick up groceries on their behalf regularly, many others are left without access to the healthy food we all need.
“I had trouble standing, walking, and carrying. I was unable to access food assistance as there were no delivery options to help those who could not physically hold and carry groceries, or for housebound folks who can’t leave home. And grocery delivery service prices were prohibitive.
Not being able to access food assistance was heartbreaking and just made everything else that was going on in my life so much worse. The hunger was like being kicked while you’re down.”
And things got worse in 2020. Prior to the pandemic, Leslie ran a teaching program from her home at an allowable earning level while on disability assistance, but her work became impossible when Covid-19 hit.
“The loss of earnings was drastic, and cut my income in half. We had finally been managing to steadily afford basic groceries, but when the pandemic hit I was housebound and 100% tapped out financially.”
For a few months at the beginning of the pandemic, Leslie’s household was able to access an emergency food program. But when the funding ran out for that short-term program, she and the others who’d depended on it - many of whom had already been struggling before the pandemic - were back to square one.
“Thank goodness for credit cards,” Leslie says, “but going into debt just so you can eat is not sustainable. In poverty you can't pay [credit cards] off. Debts are a dangerous one-way ticket when you can't just work more to pay them down.”
Now, inflation is adding an extra barrier to having enough food. Prices are rising, impacting all of us to different degrees. Many in our community are having to choose between food and other necessities. And many who were already below the poverty line are now simply going without.
Advocating for Change
“For many people this is a lifelong barrier.”
Leslie’s experience with food insecurity makes her a strong and compassionate advocate for those facing similar challenges. Provincially, Disability assistance rates are $570 for shelter allowance for 2 people - $285 per person. It goes without saying that this amount falls well short of what someone in Vancouver would expect to pay for their rent or shelter. This means that assistance that is supposed to cover other expenses is often used for housing/shelter instead, leaving nothing for food, medication, clothing or other expenses.
“For people like myself, living with disabilities often means continual lifelong poverty. It doesn't have to be like that, but support is at a poverty level. The end result is that disability directly translates into constant food insecurity. And for folks in that position, it's not a temporary glitch between employment gigs... It's a forever situation, without hope. So when I was introduced to Food Stash and became a recipient of weekly Rescued Food boxes, it ended 16 years of hunger. Without Food Stash, I would still be in the same position.”
Giving Back
Leslie became a Food Stash volunteer just over a year ago. She has volunteered at the Rescued Food Market since the beginning, greeting shoppers and offering information and assistance. Market shoppers and fellow volunteers alike have remarked on her kindness and helpfulness in the midst of a fast-paced and busy market environment.
“I am really enjoying being able to make a difference, even if it's just once a week. I really miss work, and being in the community, so Food Stash has given me back the dignity and belonging of being able to be of service to others and stay connected to the community. Because of the pandemic, I had been almost 100% isolated at home. But since Food Stash, I am connected to friendly faces and positive people weekly…And a chance to be useful, not just sitting in my kitchen."
A Brighter Future
“So here we are just a little over a year later, with such a huge difference in quality of life, such a huge reduction in fear about finances and food security. My husband and I are very grateful to Food Stash for the ongoing, weekly access to affordable nutrition.”
You can help make sure households like Leslie’s have reliable access to healthy food, which we all need. This year with our Double Up for Community Food campaign, we aim to raise $150,000 so we can continue offering grocery deliveries to more people like Leslie and the 120 members of Food Stash's Rescued Food Box delivery program.
Up until December 31st, your donations will be matched dollar for dollar up to $50,000, doubling your impact!
Your gift will also help us offer many other essential services, including the pay-what-you-feel rescued food market, and delivering healthy food to 35 other charities for their community food programs.