Emergency Food Supports to Continue!

Bruce House will be able to maintain the current level of food supports until the end of this year!

Our existing Pantry Program was significantly upgraded to assist clients during the pandemic, as food prices increased and discount brands became scarce.  We also provided PPE and cleaning supplies so that our clients could stay safe.   This is possible thanks to a series of grants (see right) as well as our partnership with The Ottawa Food Bank.

Over the past 18 months clients have been eligible to receive*:

• Non-perishable foods (thanks to The Ottawa Food Bank)
• Monthly fresh vegetable boxes
• Monthly frozen meat/fish selection
• Multi-vitamins
• PPE supplies and cleaning supplies including re-usable masks
• Personal care packages with several months’ supply of soaps, shampoo, lotion, and more
• Health-and-wellness packages with everything needed while recovering from illness from comfort foods to tissues and warm socks
• Gift cards (grocery, pharmacy, dept. stores)
• Cat litter; dog and cat food (thanks to The Ottawa Humane Society)
• Delivery of food for people who cannot access our office or cannot carry items home

It is our mission at Bruce House to assist clients in meeting all basic needs including food, and we have made this a priority.

Approximately 90% of our clients receive ODSP (Ontario Disability Support Program), which was grossly inadequate before than pandemic and only received a short-lived “top up” last summer.  Individuals receiving ODSP live in poverty and may need food programs on an ongoing basis—this situation is even more dire for people waiting to receive subsidised housing, a wait of up to ten years.   Many people in our community must make a choice between paying rent or having enough food for their families.

Currently, we only have funding to continue this level of support until Dec. 31, 2021.  We are committed to exploring every avenue of funding to maintain the highest level of food supports possible after emergency COVID funding is phased out by governments.  You can help by insisting that all levels of government commit to real solutions to the housing crisis and to the food insecurity crisis.  If you are able, please volunteer or donate to our programs, to The Ottawa Food Bank, or to similar programs.

There aren’t enough words for us to thank all of you who have already supported people living with HIV in Ottawa.  A society can be judged by how it treats its most vulnerable, and the people of Ottawa have done an outstanding job during this extremely difficult time.  Together we can set the tone: the “new normal” must include a safe place to live and enough food to eat for all.

*Limited by program capacities.  All items funded in whole or in part by one-time grants and donations unless noted otherwise.