Clutching her young son with one arm and a shopping bag with the other, mom Jane waited in line for the Cayman Food Bank to open to get her supplies for the week.
“The Food Bank is here to help people that does not have anything. That is what we’re surviving on right now,” the Caymanian mom told the Cayman Compass.
Jane, who asked that her real name not be used, was among 20 people mingling outside the Cayman Food Bank in Industrial Park with their shopping bags in hand waiting to be allowed into the food bank to get their supplies.
“I have been getting support from the Food Bank for three years. When there was nothing else… the Food Bank was there. I went to them and they helped me,” she said, as she expressed gratitude for the service provided by the local charity.
She said she and her family would not be able to live solely on the assistance she receives from the Needs Assessment Unit and so they also depend on the Food Bank.
Cayman Food Bank manager Gene Eden said Jane’s situation is not unique. In fact, he said many like her rely on the Food Bank to keep food on the table as they seek employment or manage bills with government assistance.
“It is a hard situation, it’s difficult for them,” he said.
Demand for food support has increased in the face of inflation and stagnant earnings, with the government recently seeking public input on the proposed increase of the minimum wage from $6 to $8.75.
Eden said the Food Bank has seen more people show up at their door seeking food support; from 30 to 40 people stop by on any given day of its operation.
He said sometimes the charity provides support to at least 1,000 people in a month, in addition to 80 clients at the Manor House Pantry, which works with the Food Bank.
“[We] are supposed to be one of the richest islands in the Caribbean. They fail to understand that, once you turn off of the main road, you can [encounter] people that are literally starving to death and homeless,” Eden said, adding that no one wants to admit that this is happening in the Cayman Islands.
Many face difficulties in feeding themselves or their families after dealing with bills, he said.
“The Food Bank is here to help people that [are] struggling in terms of not having enough money to eat after they pay their rent, electric bill, their water bill, their telephone bill, [keeping] children in school. You find that when you pay all of those bills, you don’t have anything to eat or the bare minimum of food to eat,” he said.
Rising inflation is exacerbating the situation.
Shoppers had to dig deeper into their pockets for food last year, as rising costs drove the average consumer price index 3.8% higher than in 2022.
When the Compass recently visited the Food Bank, volunteers were busy sorting supplies and packaging bags of flour.
Demand increases pressure
Eden said the charity covers the basic food needs of its clients, but with limited funding and increasing demand, continuing that support is becoming a challenge.
“Every day the demand is getting higher and there are more people in need,” he said.
The upper floor of the charity is fashioned like a supermarket, which Eden said is deliberate so clients can pick up supplies from the shelves themselves.
“This lets them keep their dignity,” he said.
Louise, not her real name, was another Caymanian mom who was waiting in line for food support.
She said her husband’s income is not enough for their family so she has to rely on the Food Bank.
“I have two kids and it helps with my grandmother who isn’t working, and helps to put food in the house even though we go to the supermarket every week. But it’s not enough because $100 can’t buy anything,” she said.
She said she is unable to work because of health challenges, and without the Food Bank her family would not be able to survive.
“I am very grateful. It’s good to have something in Cayman that Caymanians or people that are not from here can come and get free groceries every week or every two weeks,” she said.
More government support needed
Eden said the supermarkets, especially Foster’s, provide great support to the charity, but government help is lacking.
“I’m not too happy with our government support. We do get support like when Hazard Management are redoing their stocks… they drop some off to us which we appreciate; we appreciate any help we can get. But I think our government as a whole could do more for the people than they do,” he said.
The Food Bank, which is open Tuesday to Friday from 11am-3pm, welcomes volunteers.
Anyone who wants to donate to the Food Bank, or the affiliated Baby Bank, which collects baby clothes and supplies, can click this link.
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