Winnipeg food shelter sees demand skyrocket, as the province receives a failing grade in Manitoba’s Poverty Report Card

A week after Food Banks Canada handed Manitoba a “D-” rating, as part of Manitoba’s Poverty Report Card, foodbanks in Winnipeg continue to get busier, with Agape Table seeing record-breaking numbers of people coming through the door.

Agape Table is a local non-profit organization that was created to help feed Winnipeg’s most vulnerable people, and over the years, it has served roughly 200-250 bagged lunches a day to people in need, but those numbers have drastically spiked.

“Yesterday we served 924 in a four our period, we serve Monday to Friday from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. and our numbers are going up every single day,” said Dave Feniuk, the general manager of Agape Table.

Feniuk believes that number will soon surpass one thousand, saying they’ve noticed a shift in their demographic, with more people in the working class struggling to make ends meet.

In a recent Food Banks Canada report released last week, Manitoba was handed a “D-“, showing that one in four Manitobans are struggling to put food on the table.

“Rent is going up, utilities are going up, food’s going up, people are coming to our door now and saying you know what I have money for rent and utilities, but I don’t have enough for food, can you help us out,” said Feniuk.

Even though the demand has skyrocketed, Feniuk says their volunteers have really stepped up, including Allen Rogowski who has been volunteering for Agape since its inception 44 years ago. Rogowski says he couldn’t imagine volunteering anywhere else and says continued support from the community is needed.

“It’s all about people donating to Agape Table. It’s how we survive. It’s the donations, if it wasn’t for people donating, Agape wouldn’t have existed as long as it has been,” said Rogowski.

Those interested in helping out can contact Agape Table to volunteer and donate food and clothing.