July 14, 2010

Waterloo Region food banks could feel pinch of Loblaws strike

By: Greg Mercer

A potential strike at the region’s largest supermarket chain is threatening to cut into food bank donations at a time when supplies for the needy are already low.

The Loblaw’s chain operates at least 18 grocery stores within the region under its Zehrs, No-Frills, Valu-Mart, Real Canadian Superstore and Wholesale Club names.

If those stores were closed by a strike, the steady flow of donations that food banks and soup kitchens have come to rely on could slow down dramatically.

The Loblaw chain accounts for about 65 per cent of the 2,000 pounds of food the Waterloo Region Food Bank gets from local grocery stores every week.

“That’s probably our most regular source of donations … and anything that affects donations is concerning,” said Ruth Friendship-Keller, manager of community partnerships at the food bank.

Thousands of customers provide food through regular campaigns organized by the grocery stores, which encourage people to donate some of their purchases to the food bank.

“If there are picket lines, it would impede customers who normally put donations into the donation bins at the storefront,” Friendship-Keller said.

Scott Penner, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers union Local 1977, said the union wouldn’t want consumers to cross picket lines to make donations to the food bank. He suggested they could find other ways to donate to their food.

“Could it potentially have a negative impact on the food bank? Yes, sadly, but it would be an unintended consequence,” he said. “But we support the food bank fully.”

Penner said the union would consider bringing a trailer to picket lines and asking consumers to leave donations there, which it would deliver to the food bank.

Calls to Loblaw’s head office were not returned.

One of the food bank’s largest recipients, the House of Friendship, said about half of the food in its emergency hampers comes from the Loblaw chain. The grocer provides the agency with bread, fruit, vegetables and other products near the end of their shelf life. It occasionally gets meat and canned goods, too.

“Loblaws makes a significant portion of the food that we give out,” said Matt Cooper, co-ordinator of the agency’s food hamper program. “We wouldn’t have to close up shop if Loblaw’s started striking, but it would have a significant impact on the level of service that we are able to provide people.”

The House of Friendship hands out an average of 145 food hampers to the unemployed, new immigrants and low-income families in the region every day. Each hamper is designed to last between three to five days.

Though local farms will donate produce when it’s in season, the grocery chains are the most consistent source of donated produce year-round.

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