‘No International Students’, Food Bank In Brampton Prohibits Students From Assistance

A food bank in Brampton has made the decision to cease assistance to international students due to an overwhelming demand that it cannot adequately address.

Catherine Rivera, the board president of Ste. Louise Outreach Centre of Peel, expressed that the organization is struggling to meet the rising demand for food and supplies, particularly from international students who have been seeking assistance since September.

Rivera emphasized that international students are expected to demonstrate financial capability for their first year in Canada, making it inappropriate for them to rely on food banks. She highlighted instances where groups of three, four, or even up to ten students would arrive with backpacks, seeking free provisions. In response, the food bank has been compelled to inform them that they are responsible for their own sustenance and that of their families.

This decision comes against the backdrop of a broader trend in Canada, where reliance on food banks has been surging to unprecedented levels. A report from Food Banks Canada in October revealed that food bank usage across the country has reached its highest point since tracking began in 1989. The Daily Bread Food Bank’s most recent annual report further underscored this trend, indicating a substantial 63% year-over-year increase in usage from July 2022 to June 2023.

Parvasi Media Group