Opinion

Volume 79 Issue No. 43

TheReview Wednesday, October 23,1991 — AG gq |

Food Bank administration:
Catch 22 for working poor

A recent experience by a worker at the Peninsula
Community Association has brought to light an inherent
problem in the administration of the Sidney Lions/Review
Food Bank.

Daily, the PCA encourages people to get off welfare, get a
job and take steps toward self improvement. For many,
employment in the service industry on the Peninsula is the
first step. It’s the place most people start — at the bottom in
terms of wage level, responsibility and authority. But, as most
people realize, everyone has to start somewhere.

Donna Godwin at the PCA has also realized that those who
eam minimum wage and are making a real attempt to be self
sufficient cannot expect help from the food bank.

Over the years, the food bank’s policy has changed to the
point that recipients of assistance in the form of a hamper or
other food stuffs must be registered with Social Services and
carry an eligibility card. While the policy simplifies
administration of the food bank, it destroys what should be
the real intent of the food bank — helping the needy.

It is also unfair considering that those who qualify for
social assistance also qualify for government food vouchers
to make grocery purchases.

Godwin’s experience just before Thanksgiving Day is
detailed in a letter to the editor. Her request, and one we
support, is for the Sidney Lions/Review Food Bank to rethink
its policies.

The Review lends its name to the food bank for publicity
purposes and leaves the administration and operation up to its
founder — the Sidney Lions Club.

The treasurer of the Lions Club has promised to discuss
the matter with the Lions Club executive. It’s not the first
time the Food Bank has been discussed by the Lions’
executive. Usually, discussion centers around ways to prevent
abuse that was prevalent. Abuse by some caused the policy to
evolve into what it is now.

Shouldn’t the food bank help those who do not receive
government assistance of any kind? It’s a long way from the
welfare line to financial independence.

We think the Lions Club should find a way to help
employed people requiring assistance, without re-opening the
door to abuse of its services.

Community awards:
Importance of recognition

If you’ve ever met a special person who influenced you in
such a positive way that the person is unforgettable, this is for
you. Often, these people are unforgettable to some individu-
als but are largely overlooked by the community.

Sidney’s Centennial Community Awards are designed to
change that. The awards give residents of the Peninsula the
chance to nominate their mentor for an award. That person
could be a citizen, teacher, community worker, arts leader,
business person, sports person, volunteer, pioneer or com-
munity leader.

A plaque and a pat on the back may seem like a small
token of appreciation to some, but to the future recipients and
the persons who nominate their favorite people, this award
initiative will not be forgotten.

Take a few minutes to write some background information
about the person you are nominating, including all pertinent
information, such as how the person helped the whole
community, not just yourself in particular.

An impartial panel of judges will base their decisions on
the information that is provided.

Just as community involvement is an absolute necessity for
the Peninsula to be what it is, so is recognition of those who
have worked long and hard.

Don’t procrastinate — the deadline’s Nov. 8.

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TheReview

Serving The Saanich Peninsula
Since 1912
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or PO. Box 2070
Sidney, B.C V8L 3S5
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UNICEF’s October

Editor:

Last year, $3.5 million was
raised for UNICEF by young and
concemmed Canadians. The reve-
nues collected supported UNICEF
projects that provided assistance to
millions of women and children in
128 developing countries.

UNICEF-sponsored programs
are now saving 1.5 million chil-
dren a year. Through increased
contributions, these initiatives
could be saving an additional 5.5
million children.

I would like to thank Mayor
Marie Rosko and the Council of
Sidney for declaring October UNI-
CEF month. With the continued
help and support of people in the
Town of Sidney, UNICEF can
make a difference in the lives of
children.

Susan Bedford

UNICEF Victoria, Youth

Programs chairperson

Can’t say ‘yes’
fo one projeci

Editor:

In responding to your editorial
of Oct. 16, on affordable housing I
would like to expand upon your
reasons for my stand on this issue
(Affordable housing: Keep cross-
ing hurdles, The Review).

Since the Sewage Treatment
Plant audit was released in Febru-
ary 1991, I am on record as
opposing every development that
has come before council including
Kappa Development’s because the
treatment plant is at capacity and
any new development adds to the
problem.

I’m sure that my colleagues on
council are getting tired of hearing
my Opposition and my position but
I will not relent until the proper
plant is in place and we are no
longer subject to fines from the
Ministry of Environment.

This particular area has the
potential of having 154 affordable
housing units on it — not just
Kappa’s 24. It would be ludicrous
to say yes to Kappa and no to other
developers.

Yes, part of my platform was
affordable housing but not all. The
overburdened treatment plant was
the cornerstone of my platform

and I believe that was the main
reason why I was elected. I will
consistently stick to my guns on
this issue for as long as it takes to
work toward a solution.

Ald. Dave Goulet
Sidney

Timely help after
food bank refusal

Editor:

On the afternoon of the Friday
before Thanksgiving I became
aware of a working mom and her
children who would likely be with
very little or no food for the
coming weekend.

The mom had approached the
Sidney Lions/Review food bank for
assistance and was informed that
they only helped “people on wel-
fare.”

I called the operators of the food
bank and asked for confirmation
of this and was informed that yes
indeed, working people cannot
receive help from our food bank,
only people who have a Social
Services and Housing “card.”

I went home and got the turkey
from my deep-freeze and gave it to
the mom as our family was invited
out to dinner. The mom insists on
paying for this when she gets paid.

She informed me that she had
often put articles in the boxes set
out for the food bank so she felt
perhaps she in turn could access
now that she was in trouble. She
was disappointed. :

On Saturday evening I received
a call at my home from Evelyn
Gosse asking me if I knew of an
appropriate place for their church
to donate the produce from their
Harvest Festival on Sunday.

The food bank wouldn’t be open
until Tuesday and many of the
items may not last until then
without proper refrigeration.

I asked Evelyn if a family in
need would be appropriate, think-
ing of Friday’s episode.

On Sunday morning at 12:30
p.m. the produce was delivered to
the mom and her family. I would
like to thank Evelyn and Jack
Gosse and the United Church for
their trust in me and thank God for
still performing his miracles.

Donna Godwin
Peninsula Community
Association

Sidney

Editor’s note: The operating
policies of the Sidney Lions/
Review Food Bank are being
reviewed at this time.

Raie Payers found
comment insulfing

Editor:

Regarding the Sidney council
meeting of Tuesday, Oct. 15, con-
ceming the expansion of the
marina, we the Sidney Rate Payers
Association, take great exception
to the insensitive comments made
by. the mayor to the effect that
property owners on the waterfront
“would have to live with” the
decision made by council.

We also deplore the fact of an
alderperson stating one viewpoint
and then voting the opposite when
the vote was called.

Bob Smith
President
Sidney Rate Payers Association

Significant track
record for NDP

Editor:

Contrary to what we have been
led to believe, the financial record
of the Barrett government was
most significant.

The former Socred government
was selling natural gas to the U.S.
at less than cost.

In 1973 the NDP created B.C.
Petroleum. It earned $1.5 billion
in it’s first seven years and since
the Socreds have reaped it’s bene-

fits for years, $235 million in 1981

alone:

In 1973 the NDP bought Cana-
dian Cellulose for $1 and the
assumption of a $68 million debt.
In seven years it returned profits of
$156 million and saved 3,000 jobs.

Plateau Mills was bought in
1974 for $7.6 million and in four
years earned profits of $11 million
and saved 427 jobs.

Kootenay Forest was bought in
1974 and in five years earned over
$3 million. These mills went into
BCRIC, while meant for Canadi-
ans only, those assets, thanks to the
Socreds went south.

In 1975 the NDP bought Panco
Poultry to save 360 jobs at a cost
of $4.8 million. It made $1.22

Continued on Page A8

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