Making Do: Community Support
Participants used community supports as a resource to make do each month.
“We signed up for community supports around Christmas this year and last year, and they ask you for a list of “wants” to buy presents for each member of the family. Our “wants” this year and last year were formula, diapers, and non-perishable foods. We’ve also accessed the food bank for adults so we can use grocery money for formula instead.”
—Survey Participant
Priya* thanking the community family centre.
We received free samples of powdered formula from a community family organization (they receive it as a donation from the manufacturer). I do try to save money on formula when I can because it is very expensive.
— Survey Participant
We were able to stop using formula a few weeks after birth because I was able to increase my breast milk supply. We still had an expensive case of ready to serve bottles of formula. I took it to our local food bank, directly, instead of leaving it in a drop off location. The food bank doesn’t normally take donations at the door but they unlocked the door when they saw what I had through the window. The staff member was very gracious and said they wouldn’t even be putting it on the floor, as they had a phone list for families to take turns receiving formula based on a referral process. Formula is the only item in the food bank that operates this way.
—Survey Participant
Each month I sit down and right out all the regularly occurring monthly expenses. I then calculate what is left. Check out stock on what we have and budget what our family eats weekly. Sometimes my daughter’s snacks last her a day and sometimes they last her a week. I try to pick up as many free food resources available in my community first and spend the little money I do have coming in while on mat leave on extra snacks my toddler will eat and meat as those are things often not available for free.
Sometimes the money does run out, and it makes me feel very sad, like I’m failing as a parent in having to tell my child that we have to wait for payday to pick up more snacks. When we have to make do we will stretch everything we do have at home, stretch the pasta, soups, and rely on the food bank to get extra things to help in the short term. I often have to remind myself this is just a short time of struggle and as long as everyone has a roof over their head, food in the belly we are doing okay.
—Stephanie*, Canada
“Food banks, doctor’s offices, free samples, and blessing boxes in the community or other mom’s who had extra formula he could use were helpful and he never went without we had family/friends willing to help.”
—Survey Participant
“Easier access to get help at food banks. Before I was approved for SNAP I tried to get help at a food bank and was turned away for not having 2 months of bank statements since I was not working . I was 3 days postpartum trying to feed my 2 toddlers. I was given expired bread, a jar of peanut butter, an apple and 2 old donuts. Thank goodness a social worker there saw me get turned away in tears and gave me a gift card to the grocery store.”
—Survey Participant
—Penny*, United States
