232696
230128

BC  

Food bank donations resold

It appears desperate people have taken to reselling food bank donations on the streets in Vancouver.

A CTV Vancouver hidden camera investigation shot a man in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside trying to sell a bag full of food for cash.

"It's fresh," the seller said of the groceries, which included bananas, oranges, milk and rice. Asked where it all came from, the man replied, "It's from my food bank, man."

It’s not clear which food bank the groceries came from, but CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Aart Schuurman Hess was not quick to judge.

"When I hear that, I find it very, very unfortunate," Hess said, "We do know that families and individuals are sometimes scrambling for dollars just to pay their rents, so they're selling food just to sustain themselves."

Hess said 26,500 people use their food bank services each week and resellers represent just a  drop in the bucket.

"Most people that access the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, they really need that food," he told CTV Vancouver.

Jeremy Hunka of the Union Gospel Mission, which also operates a food bank, was also sympathetic.

"People tend to things they would never otherwise consider if they feel they don't have another option,” Hunka said.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank said they are not really concerned about preventing similar behaviour, noting it could make users feel scrutinized.

"We've made the barrier as low as possible," Hess said. "We provide dignity and respect to our members."

with files from CTV Vancouver 



More BC News