$ 20 - provide lunches for a mother and children

Mary, did you eat today, you seem to be getting thinner.
No time she said in her broken English. Too busy working and cooking to feed my girls.
Mary, is your family doing OK?
Yes, I cook for the girls so they have as much as they can eat. They need food to keep them smart.
Mary, did you know you can get food through the food bank? Yes, I get food sometimes, for my girls and a little more for me.

 $ 50 - food for guest at an "out of the cold" meal

Jean, how do you feel when you're hungry? …My stomach burns my head starts to ache and my jaw gets tight.
Jean, how does hunger make you feel? …You mean emotionally? I'm beyond frustrated, been hungry way too often to be   frustrated. Depressed, lonely, like a bit of a loser.
Jean, what happens when you are hungry? …I make stupid choices. I can't think straight, can't concentrate, sometimes I lose my temper. When I'm hungry I'm not at my best, maybe I should stay at home and sleep.
Jean, are you hungry now? ...No, I had a meal at the "Kitchen." Just remembered I must thank the cook.

With food provided by The Food Bank, community meal programs provide more than 1500 meals per day.

 
$ 50 - provide meals for families receiving a food hamper                                                                                                       

A diagnosis of MS incited emotions of fear, helplessness and anxiety for Eldon. But his pain was not isolated. Loss of income and financial instability has left his family struggling.
A food bank staff person asked Eldon if they were receiving food support. Eldon with his head bowed low said, yes some months are worse than others on our bank account.
It kills me to ask for help, but I am grateful for the food support. My MS isn't getting better so we may need help again in the future.

                                                                                        
65,400 food hampers are distributed to individuals and families per year.

$ 75 - provide food for families as they settle into Canada

Christmas 2010 was our first Christmas in Canada. The weeks leading to Christmas felt so lonely.
Back home our family was baking and talking about great meals they would eat together.
In Canada my wife and I were in English language training. We were months away from finding employment.
Financial assistance was helping with rent, hydro, daycare and "simple food". But we yearned for the "flavours" of home.
Delivery of a "Christmas Hamper" they called it. It was a box full of food and treats. Welcome to Canada, were their departing words. I closed the door and gulped back a tear.
Food from strangers who care...
If this is the Canadian way then I need not yearn for the old country.