VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – Food Banks and other charities are meant for people caught up in emergency situations, unfortunately, it has become a daily routine for many struggling to get by.

News1130′s Andrea Macpherson is on Day 4 of the Welfare Food Challenge, as grocery items start to run out.

Day 4 – Slim pickings

I still have basic ingredients to make my meals. But after today, my pickings are slim for things like meat.

Kay Thody with the Great Vancouver Food Bank Society says many people would be surprised as to who is actually using this service.

“We have a name for people who use the food bank and it’s neighbour. It’s your mother, father, grandmother, grandfather, uncle, niece…essentially it is your neighbours.”

She tells us it’s extremely important that they have high-protein items to carry people through their day.

“Tuna, salmon, peanut butter, those types of things. Items which have the ability to provide as much nutrition as humanly possible and fill the bellies of those that are hungry,” outlines Thody.



(Andrea picked up peanut butter and soy milk for $3 at the dollar store)



(Andrea made peanut butter cookies for snacks on Day 4 of the challenge)


What are you running low on?

Meat, mostly. I have a piece of steak left over from dinner a couple of days ago, so that is dinner tonight. It’s mainly just leftovers until I reassess my situation.

Yesterday, you had $4 left in your pocket, what is the count for today?

I have just over a dollar because I picked up a couple items I really wanted yesterday. I finally found my peanut butter! It was $2 at a dollar store and I found soy milk for a buck. That’s the protein and calcium I’ve been lacking and I found the world’s easiest recipe with ingredients I had this week to make some peanut butter cookies, because I’ve been lacking in the snacking department.

Are you noticing any physical changes in yourself?

I was very grumpy towards the end of the day yesterday. I don’t know if it’s just me being moody or if it’s the fact that I was hungry, tired, and bored. I’ve held up so far though; just tomorrow and the weekend now.

You can follow my progress on Twitter @AMacOnAir