Thefts add to rising costs for food banks and school programs

The rising costs of food and fuel are posing problems for Maritime groups that help others pay for those essentials, and thefts from their vehicles havemade matters worse.

Moncton Headstart in New Brunswick and Feed Nova Scotia say they've been the victims of recent catalytic converter thefts from vehicles that are vital to their work.

"On topof the extreme gas prices, now we have one of our buses that is non-functioning," Tracy Arnand, the family program co-ordinator for Moncton Headstart, told CBC Radio's Maritime Noon on Thursday.

The organization provides healthy meals to school children in need andhas two buses that it uses to bring children to and from its program.

Arnand, who was waiting for police to arrive to investigate the theft Thursday,said Moncton Headstart was alreadystruggling to maintain its meal program amid rising grocery and gas prices before the catalytic converter theft.

Thieves sell the devices to scrap metal dealers for hundreds of dollars. A new catalytic converter can cost between $1,500 and $2,500.

'It just grounds you'

Feed Nova Scotia, which distributes food to about 140 food banks and meal programs in the province, had several catalytic converters stolen a few weeks ago.

"It just grounds you," said Nick Jennery, the organization's executive director. "It also has an impact on your insurance, an impact on the cost of replacement, but meanwhile there are organizations and people who are 100 per cent reliant on you getting food to them."

Jennery said Feed Nova Scotia distributes more than $1 million worth of food each month to food banks, shelters and meal programs. Italso sends 600boxes of non-perishable groceries each week to people who can't get to a food bank or shelter for support.

Jennery and Arnand said rising fuel costshavehit everyone hard during the cold winter, with people struggling to pay for home heating and for gas if they have a vehicle. The minimumprice for regulargas in Halifaxwas156.5 cents alitre Thursday. In New Brunswick, the maximum price for regular gas was 163.3 cents a litre.

Ideas to help

Jennery said Feed Nova Scotia has to fuel five trucks driving all over the province to deliver food.

He hassuggestions for long-term strategies to improve things, includinga basic income pilot program and an increase in income assistance.

Jennerysaid many people who come to Feed Nova Scotiafor help are seeking access to food banks for the first time. He thinks there are more of the "hidden hungry" who might be reluctant to ask forassistance.

"It takes a great deal of courage to put your hand up and say, 'I need help,'" he said.

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