Photo courtesy of the United States Department of Agriculture

Families emigrating from different parts of the world to Canada have many hardships to face, from adapting to a new culture and lifestyle to finding a job to support themselves and their families. Poverty affects many different cultural communities, leaving thousands of children across B.C. hungry and ill-fed. Community organizations like food banks can help bridge the gap and ensure that families in need are able to survive times of crisis.

“When I came here from Vietnam, my family was poor but we were lucky enough to have sponsors. Nowadays, families aren’t as lucky. They have to rely on social programs in their communities and the government doesn’t have a lot of these programs to help immigrants,” says Joseph, 48, who immigrated with his family decades ago and now works as a carpenter, supporting his own wife and two sons.

A B.C. problem

According to 2011 Statistics Canada data, B.C. has the highest rate of child poverty in Canada, with 18.6 per cent of B.C. children living in low-income households, compared to the national average of 13.3 per cent. The problem can be particularly acute in visible minority families – those who are not of Aboriginal or Caucasian descent – which Statistics Canada notes are generally more likely to be at risk of living with low income.

For many families, the wide range of expenses they face can make it difficult to cover basic needs. Joseph notes that his sons are now in university, which puts more financial strain on his situation. He says that it was bad enough when they were only in elementary school, but now it is worse because of expensive tuition.

Outside the Greater Vancouver Food Bank on a rainy day. | Photo by Stephanie Lamy

Local groups such as the Surrey Food Bank and the Muslim Food Bank are often relied upon in communities to provide support in times of need. The Surrey Food Bank has launched programs specifically aimed at children like Toddler Totes, which provides food for children between the ages of one and two, ensuring that these fundamental years of development are not jeopardised by increasing poverty rates. The Vancouver Food Bank offers emergency food once a week. The care packages offered include many different foods including bread, eggs, and popcorn, as well as packages designed specifically for the nutritional needs of infants and children. The Vancouver School Board helps children and youth by offering assistance to those who can’t afford to pay for their hot lunches. However, with rising food prices, schools have started to demand proof of low-income status.

Children of immigrant families face adversity

Austen, 19, is a university student who has experienced growing up in the face of adversity. Austen is a single child who lives with his Filipino mother, who raised him alone. Being of Filipino descent, Austen takes pride in his background and chooses to embrace it. However, he says his mother has faced disadvantages raising him because of their background.

“It’s not the fact that my mother is Filipino, but the fact that my mom is an immigrant. Why do [immigrants] take these [low paying jobs]? Because they have to and it’s much better than what they’re being offered in their place of origin,” says Austen.

According to Austen, the many programs offered by aid groups like the Salvation Army or Vancouver Food Bank may not be enough to make a long term difference. Austen says that he was never hungry, but that was because of his mother’s dedication and hard work. He says that many other kids in our communities aren’t as fortunate, that living a low-income life isn’t easy and we should never stop trying to help where we can.