OCFP’S Storm Response
On May 21st 2022, a powerful storm and downburst hit Ottawa and surrounding areas. Winds hit maximums of 190 Km/h, and devastated many communities throughout the city. Thousands of homes lost their power - with some not regaining it for upwards of 6 days! And when the power goes out for days at a time, one thing that people quickly become concerned about is refrigerated and frozen foods.
Did you know that the food stored in a fridge freezer can only last approximately 24 - 48 hours without power? And when that food finally does go bad - it goes bad fast! Personally, my freezers lasted a good 48 hours before things really started to thaw, but come day 3 you couldn’t enter the house without noticing the smell. We ended up without power for another 3 days after that. While it certainly was frustrating to have to throw away roughly $400 worth of groceries for a family of 4, I knew that we were in a financial place to recover later on. Many were and are not so lucky…
It is not uncommon for people to purchase meats, breads, and dairy products like cheese when they are on sale, and then freeze them for later use, especially amongst those living on a low income, or for those who do not live near a grocery store. Many of the fruits and vegetables we enjoy also don’t last long in the spring and summer heat, so refrigerating them helps them to last longer. Losing these foods all at once can be financially devastating, and exposes how food insecure many people are. With this now being a reality to thousands of people in the Ottawa area as we go into June, it’s not surprising that we are seeing an increased use of social service supports like food banks and food centres.
The Ottawa Community Food Partnership and their Cooking for a Cause program delivered over 14,000 meals in the week following the storm on May 21. They connected directly with the service agencies that need meals and food businesses that can provide them to create a flow of delicious, culturally relevant food into the community.
The effects of this storm on food insecurity in Ottawa will be felt for months, and the OCFP will continue to be there to provide support for (y)our Neighbours - and you can too. Support doesn’t always mean money. Support can be giving someone the time and space to talk about the things they are experiencing. It can be the act of hosting a neighbourhood BBQ to uplift their spirits and provide a few hours of time to think about something else.
Throughout the city individuals and communities banded together immediately after the storm. My own community of Leslie Park has never been more active! Every day I saw and heard about people helping each other where they could when it came to food, power, or physical aid in removing debris from yards, roads, and roofs. Our facebook group was flooded with neighbours sharing links to local businesses and agencies in the area providing storm relief, or tips and tricks on how to make flashlights brighter (apparently old milk jugs are the way to go!). I had an hour-long conversation with a neighbour I had never even seen before this week. These were the things that helped me and my family to push through anxiety and fear and into hope and strength.
So get out there and meet your neighbours, share stories, and offer a listening ear to those around you. Those small acts of kindness and empathy can change people’s whole day.
