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"ttttt You Mo. " WMV. Angie MacKinnon Chronicle Staff Food - and the ability to obtain it - is a major problem for many unemployed people in this area. Fortunately, the Mayor's (Kitchener and Waterloo) Committee for unemployed people has found a way to alleviate the problem. The Foodbank of Waterloo Region is a non-profit community organization which solic, its mainly food (but also other products) on behalf of agencies which provide food to the needy in Waterloo region. The idea for Foodhank came originally from the United States where it is a national network. set up to help those people in the States who need The Foodbank. which opened last January. distributed some 20,000 pounds of food and other products in its first six months. Although the numbers aren't in for the last six months of operation, according to Ernie Ginsler, Chair man of Foodbank, "we will probably exceed $.00!) pounds by the end of the year." Foodbank success a joy for the needy Recently, Dutch Boy Food Markets became the first store to join in assisting the Foodbank by' placing bins in the area's four stores. As well, the store has printed some 15,000 flyers encouraging shoppers to purchase something extra to put in the bins. "At present time it is going well." said George Humphreys, Director of Marketing for Dutch Boy Food Markets. "People are generous and Donations flow E quite receptive, they've shown their concern by the number of donations to the bins." Dutch Boy joined the Foodbank mutually with the Foodbank committee. "lt was a mutual approach. they're helping us spread the word to other stores so we're not having to go out and do a hard sell," said Ginsler. Ginsler said they haven't thought of extra promotion for the Christmas season. "We will probably get more lat Christmas) because people think motor giving then." "ilcorziing to Ginger iinother reason they don't necessarily push more at Christmas is because this problem isin all-year/mt. . _ Foodbank is a very busy organization. said Ginsler. and co-ordinator Gary Snyder handles all the pick-ups, handling. and distributing . The Foodbank has minimal running costs. “It is negligible in comparison to the benents from food donations." said Ginsler. - Before the Dutch Boy Food Markets joined Foodbank. their main source of food came and still comes direct from growers. producers. retailers and wholesalers. "In fact." said Ginsler. "the first major source of food has been from the major donations of these companies/ind-rits", _ To date there are successful Foodbank programs in Toronto, Ottawa. Edmonton. Re- gina and Alberta. One will soon be starting in Barrie and there is talk of a Foodbank in Wind- wm,o-m zsmumw E Pat Arbucklo Chronicle Staff Although no eo-ordinated assis- tance program has yet been launched in the Waterloo region, local church and charitable organi- zations are stepping up their indi- vidual relief efforts. Annette Oudejans, who represent- ed the KW branch of Oxfam Canada at a Sunday press conference, said that the agency is planning to launch a low-key campaign during the Christmas season that will urge residents to avoid purchasing luxu- ry items. "We plan to appeal to people to think when they are spending money for luxury items. think - Do we need all of these? Can't we use some of this money for people who are starving?" she said. The press conference. held at the Global Community Centre. was called to outline examples of relief and development programs already underway in Africa. that are sup ported by local agencies - to "give people information on how they can assist the situation," explained Joanquil Brunker, a member of the A DONATION 0F EVEN A SIMM Foot) ANKLE Ill! APPRECMTED FOR m - Emergency food programs not the answer ALL ARTICLES WHOM! tystttlB0TEt) BY TM "iyt.t:,,,,l,l,tfy The local Ioodbank has been a higth-ouccmtul woman. E management committee of the Glo- bal Community Centre. - Representatives of four local or- ganizations, involved in African aid programs, stressed that emergency food programs are not the answer because they neither attack the root cause of the hunger problem. nor provide long-term solutions. "This is not a thing that just came up now and will be gone tomorrow." said Oudejans. “It will be with us for years." Brunker said that a number of local organizations are currently operating parallel programs that provide not only emergency relief but also look to the future with water, reforestation and agriculture projects. These will "increase peo- ple's chances of self-reliance on an ongoing basis and correct some of the structures that make crisis an ongoing symptom," she explained. Oudejans said that Oxfam Can- ada. for example, has been working in Africa since 1964, concentrating for the past four years on the two northern provinces of Eritrea and Tigray. which are among the hard- l i' ‘0'.me (Continued on page Al