The pandemic aftershock continues to ripple through Kelowna’s community support systems in ways few predicted. Walking through the Central Okanagan Food Bank’s warehouse last Tuesday morning, I watched as volunteers sorted through donations that would be gone within hours – a scene playing out with increasing frequency across the region.
“We’re seeing faces we’ve never seen before,” Trevor Moss, the food bank’s executive director told me, gesturing toward the intake area where three new families waited. “People who never imagined they’d need our services are walking through those doors every day.”
The numbers tell a story that’s impossible to ignore. The Central Okanagan Food Bank reported a staggering 34% increase in new clients during the first quarter of 2024 compared to the same period last year. What’s particularly troubling is the demographic shift – working families now represent nearly 40% of all recipients, up from 28% in 2022.
Behind these statistics are stories that challenge our understanding of food insecurity. Take Melissa Cranston, a dental hygienist and mother of two, who I met during my visit. “I have a good job that paid enough before, but with rent up $600 and groceries costing what they do now, the math just doesn’t work anymore,” she explained, her voice steady but tired.
Food Banks Canada’s HungerCount 2023 report had already signaled trouble, showing British Columbia experiencing one of the sharpest increases in food bank usage nationwide. But local officials say the Kelowna numbers are outpacing even those projections.
The convergence of factors creating this perfect storm isn’t hard to identify. Kelowna’s rental vacancy rate sits at a mere 1.2% according to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, while average rents increased 9.8% year-over-year. Meanwhile, grocery prices have climbed approximately 21% since 2021, according to Statistics Canada data.
City Councillor Loyal Wooldridge, who chairs the Healthy City Strategy committee, didn’t mince words when I spoke with him about the situation. “We’re witnessing the collision of multiple crises – housing, inflation, and wage stagnation – and our community safety nets are stretching to their limits,” he said.
What makes this surge particularly concerning is its breadth. The food bank reports serving over 5,000 individuals monthly in early 2024, with an unexpected rise in seniors on fixed incomes and post-secondary students. UBC Okanagan’s student union confirmed this trend, noting their campus food bank usage has doubled since 2022.
The provincial government announced an additional $10 million in emergency funding for BC food banks in February, but local organizations say this amounts to temporary relief for a structural problem. “We appreciate the support, but we need sustainable solutions that address why so many working people can’t afford basics like food,” Moss emphasized.
Community response has been characteristically generous. Local businesses like Sandhill Winery and Big White Ski Resort recently organized fundraising events, while the Rotary Club of Kelowna has pledged volunteer hours and collection drives. However, donation fatigue is becoming evident as the same donors are repeatedly tapped.
The changing face of hunger in Kelowna reflects broader economic challenges. Tourism industry workers, traditionally the backbone of the local economy, are particularly vulnerable. “I work full-time at a hotel downtown and part-time as a server, but still need help feeding my kids,” said Mark Pearson, a 36-year-old father I interviewed while he waited for his hamper.
Across town at the Gospel Mission, Executive Director Carmen Rempel reports similar trends. “Our meal service numbers are up 28% this year,” she told me. “And we’re seeing more families requesting meals to go, which wasn’t common before.”
The ripple effects extend beyond hunger itself. School administrators at Rutland Elementary report increasing concerns about students’ nutritional status, with their breakfast program now serving twice as many children as in 2022.
Local food producers are stepping up in creative ways. The Okanagan Tree Fruit Cooperative has established a new gleaning program where volunteers harvest excess orchard fruit for food banks, while several local farms have dedicated acreage specifically for community food security initiatives.
Looking ahead, most experts agree that traditional charity models are insufficient for the scale of today’s challenges. Interior Health nutritionist Deanna Macdonald, who works with vulnerable populations, argues for systemic change. “Food banks are essential emergency services, but we need to address the underlying causes – affordable housing, living wages, and stronger social supports,” she explained.
For now, the Central Okanagan Food Bank is adapting as best it can. They’ve extended operating hours, streamlined distribution, and launched a mobile pantry program reaching rural areas. But resources are stretched thin, with warehouse space at capacity and volunteer burnout becoming a concern.
As I left the food bank, I watched a young couple with a toddler loading a food hamper into their well-maintained sedan – a scene that defies outdated stereotypes about who experiences food insecurity. The reality is that hunger in Kelowna has become a mainstream concern touching households from diverse economic backgrounds.
The challenge facing Kelowna isn’t just feeding people today, but building resilience that prevents tomorrow’s hunger. As one volunteer put it to me: “We’re not just filling bellies; we’re trying to preserve dignity in impossible circumstances.” In a region known for its abundance, the growing struggle to put food on the table serves as a stark reminder of how quickly economic security can slip away.
