The Promise

“This house seeks to achieve the goal of eliminating poverty among Canadian children by the year 2000.” - House of Commons Unanimous ALL Party Resolution, November 24, 1989.

In the 15 years since our elected leaders made that pledge, child poverty has worsened in Canada.

Statistics

• In Manitoba, 49,000 children live in poverty (2004 statistics.)  Find out more from the Child and Family Poverty Report Card .
  
• Almost one in five Manitoba children live in poverty (19.2%).  The national rate is 17.7%
• The poverty rate for off-reserve Aboriginal children in Manitoba was 49.7% in 2001
• Children who recently immigrated to Manitoba are at high risk of living in poverty – 51.2%
• Children with a disability are also more likely to experience poverty  – 32.1%
• 18,126 children receive food from Winnipeg Harvest each month.  Ten years ago that number was 5,512.
• 47% of people receiving emergency food from Winnipeg Harvest are children
• 1,600 infants require emergency baby formula from Winnipeg Harvest each month
• 29 Winnipeg daycares, 48 community centres and 27 schools receive meal and snack food from Winnipeg Harvest to service children that might otherwise go hungry

The Cost
Many studies suggest from conception to age six are the most important influence in the life cycle, effecting brain development, school readiness and health in later life.  Find out more in the Healthy Child Task Force Report.

Children living in poverty are at risk because:

• Babies born to low-income parents are twice as likely to be born with a low birth weight – which is the leading cause of infant death and illness in infancy and childhood.
• 60-90% of children from low income families suffer from early childhood tooth decay compared to 5-10% of children generally in North America.  Tooth decay is painful and results in trouble sleeping, eating and learning.
  

The Hope

Children and youth are an integral part of life at Winnipeg Harvest, contributing more than 100,000 volunteer hours annually

More than 500 schools and youth groups visited Winnipeg Harvest in 2005

Winnipeg Harvest, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club, runs a Saturday morning program for neighbourhood children who play, learn life skills and occasionally work together in our warehouse

Dozens of schools hold food drives and poverty awareness events annually with successful programs such as Empty Bowls.

Each year Winnipeg Harvest honours children who are exceptionally giving with a Kids Who Care ceremony.

Sources:  Winnipeg Harvest Inc., Manitoba Health, National Council on Welfare, Canadian Council on Social Development, Social Planning Council of Winnipeg, Child Poverty Report Card 2003 (Manitoba);Toronto Food Policy Council

Updated February 2006