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Food and social service agencies talk food security by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 3 | Friday, July 1, 2016 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Discussions on how Halton food groups can better serve those in need continued to make progress June 20. Following March's Raising The Bar forum, Food for Life and Halton Poverty Roundtable hosted a second seminar at Oakville's Queen Elizabeth Park Community and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC) to continue dialogue on how to improve food security in Halton. Representatives from local food assistance organizations and social service agencies convened to focus on three key areas established at a preliminary November 2015 meeting ­ access, acquisition and distribution and infrastructure. "We know people are hungry due to lack of funds to purchase food and not due to lack of food itself. Hunger occurs for many different reasons and has significant negative impacts on one's health and quality of life, thus putting pressure on the healthcare system," said Brenda Hajdu, Food for Life executive director. Gary O'Neill "We are here to talk about how we can collectively work together to feed the hungry in our community." Group facilitators presented the results of discussion from each of nine tables. Food for Life board director Sarah Rae and individuals at Table Nine mainly focused on one issue per area. With regards to access to food, Rae's group discussed developing a common, barrier-free intake process and system to support Brenda Hajdu program usage and demand. The consensus was the needs testing is actually turning people away and those who are hungry aren't looking for extra food, they just want to receive it, Rae said. "When someone has that need, it's our duty to provide it," said Rae. "Part of the reasons people don't visit a food bank is that whole stigma around attending the needs testing and not wanting to be poked and prodded with questions." On the topic of food acquisition Michelle Knoll and distribution, the idea of having one central hub synched with multiple delivery foundations led the conversation for Rae's table. She said efficiency of a central hub is key in delivering "good, quality food" to people on time. "It was important to everybody at the table that the hubs still exist, that they're in the communities. Transportation is such a challenge for people that the hubs need to exist where people are," said Rae. "Those hubs could serve as Alex Sarchuk more than just where people get food. They can go there and get access to referrals, if they need it. Food insecurity comes with other challenges." Gary O'Neill, Kerr Street Mission (KSM) executive director, facilitated the talks at Table Seven. He echoed comments made by other groups to advocate for an increase in social assistance by more than one per cent per annum, part of the discussion on infrastructure see Putting on p.9 Canada day! · Hearing aids · Hearing tests · Speech · Language · Voice · Swallowing Experience the most wonderful time of the year on one of our luxurious river cruises that takes you to explore the magic of Europe's Christmas markets along the Rhine and Danube rivers. 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