The Food Bank: Would YOU Find This Easy to Access?

The following are the rules for the Food Bank in Kingston. They were given to me in a package from the ODSP office.

One could argue that these rules violate the test for Duty to Accommodate under the Human Rights Code. They also fail the test for Customer Service under the Accessibility for Ontarian's With Disabilities Act; the one that will soon be enforced on the public sector starting in January 2012.

To fully understand the extent of the problem, it is important to be aware of the limits of public transportation in Kingston.

The Food Bank is located too far from a bus stop for some people who can use that service; they have to be able to walk the distance from the bus stop to the Food Bank, and then have to be able to walk back to the bus stop carrying all of that has been received.

Further, if you look at the eligibility criteria to be deemed income eligible for food from the Food Bank, all they will look at is income minus the cost for shelter. It appears no consideration will be given for the cost of transit, phone, disability related expenses, etc.

As an aside, in Kingston the people who use Access Bus pay far more for their bus than those who can take conventional transit. The bus fare is $2.50 times every trip that one takes. There is no discount for buying tickets, there is no option to buy a bus pass, and the City's Transportation Subsidy for Low-Income people cannot be used on Kingston Access Bus. It's a non-profit charitable organization and the city does not contract with them to provide the service.

With this background in mind, I ask you to read the following rules and then decide:
  • How accessible the food would be to you?
  • How you would feel if you had to follow these rules where the onus is placed 100% on you to pick up the food?
I plotted the locations of soup kitchens and the food banks in Kingston on a Google Map. Click Free Food Locations to view it.

Again, I'll ask you, if you have trouble walking or can't afford bus fare, would you be able to access this free food?

Please think about this and then ask questions before you donate food to these places. They are definitely necessary to have in these current economic times, but there is a serious problem when people who really need it, can't walk or afford the bus fare to get there.

Hint: Click on image to see a bigger view.

An typed version follows for those who use screen readers. I rearranged the order slightly so I could keep food bank rules together. The list of Good Food Box items are now listed below.

Food Bank Header with Addresses

The Food Bank Rules



How do I access the Food Bank?
  • You can contact us directly - no referral is required
  • The Food Bank provides temporary and or emergency services
  • You will be asked to come in for a one time brief appointment and show verification of:
    • Income - source of family income - ex: EI, OW, Employment, Disability
    • Family size - ex: other adults in family, number of children
    • Rent - Address - Utilities
    • Personal Identification - picture ID preferred - Health Card or Drivers License
All personal information will be held in strictest confidence
  • Qualifying factors to access the Food Bank are based on total family income vs. shelter costs
  • The number of times you can access the food bank depends on your family income:
    • minimum - 3 times a year
    • maximum of once a month
HOW DO I PLACE A FOOD ORDER – CONTACT US!!

Listed in the Telephone Directory as:
"THE FOOD BANK"
(613) 544-4534

NO TELEPHONE?
"Pre-book your order in person!"
at 140 HICKSON AVENUE

Open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday - We are closed on all holidays and weekends

Orders are booked for the Next Available Day but can be Pre-Booked 3 days in advance

Only emergency, overnight bags are available the same day to those in extreme crisis situations

WHAT TIME DO I PLACE MY ORDER – 8:30 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
  • You will be asked if there are any changes to your file when you order
  • If there are changes - you will be asked to provide verifications at pickup time
  • NO ORDERS after 2:00 pm - We are closed between 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
WHAT TIME DO I PICK UP MY ORDER – Between 3:00 pm - 4:00 pm
  • PICTURE IDENTIFICATION & YOUR SIGNATURE is required EVERY TIME
  • Be prepared to transport your GROCERIES HOME
  • BE SURE YOU GET THE NUMBER OF BAGS/BOXES AS LISTED ON YOUR GROCERY PICKUP SLIP
    Do this before you bag your bread and other food items
  • Ask our volunteers if you are missing any groceries
WHAT IF I CAN'T PICK UP MY ORDER MYSELF – YOU can make other arrangements
  • A FRIEND OR RELATIVE can pick up - THEY MUST HAVE IDENTIFICATION
  • YOU can arrange for a DELIVERY SERVICE to deliver your food to your door
  • IN ALL CASES - We will not release your order without your verification - CALL US
WHAT IF I CAN'T PICK UP MY ORDER or GET SOMEONE ELSE TO PICK IT UP
  • CALL if you cannot pick up your order – REBOOKING IS AN OPTION
WHAT IF I DO NOT CANCEL AND DO NOT PICK UP MY FOOD ORDER
  • Unclaimed hampers "WILL NOT BE REBOOKED" You lose your order that month!
  • If you MISS ANY TWO (2) pickups WITHOUT CALLING to inform US
The Food Bank reserves the right to discontinue services to you in the future!

Questions or Concerns? Please feel free to call us: (613) 544-4534

The Food Sharing Project



FREE BREAKFAST - FREE LUNCH - FREE SNACK PROGRAMS
in about 75 Kingston /area schools
(613) 530-3514
FOR MORE INFORMATION TELEPHONE OR CONTACT YOUR CHILD(REN)'S SCHOOL

The Good Food Box

Large Box ($15)

3 lbs bananas
10 lbs potatoes
6 granny smith apples
2 lbs. carrots
2 tomatoes
1 clove garlic
1 romaine lettuce
6 oranges
1 broccoli
1 cucumber
1 lb pears
1 lb mushrooms
1 celery

Small Box ($10)

3 lbs bananas
5 lbs potatoes
4 granny smith apples
2 lbs. carrots
1 broccoli
1 cucumber
5 oranges
1 lb green pepper
1 romaine lettuce
1/2 lb mushrooms

Fruit Bag ($5)

1.5 lbs bananas
4 red delicious apples
1 honeydew melon
2 oranges
2 kiwis
1 lb pears

Veggie Bag ($5)

1 garlic
1 cucumber
1 lettuce
1/2 lb mushrooms
1 green pepper
carrots
green onions
2 tomatoes

Items listed are examples of what you might receive subject to seasonal availability

IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN THE GOOD FOOD BOX, PLEASE CALL AND LEAVE A MESSAGE REQUESTING INFORMATION 613-530-2239

Please read my other Blogs:
Transit: http://wheelchairdemon-transit.blogspot.com
Health: http://wheelchairdemon-health.blogspot.com

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