Break-in and food theft from North End Hamilton food bank ‘an act of desperation’

Food banks help those with food insecurity who are uncertain if they can put the next meal on the table.

And then there are those living on an even narrower razor's edge of survival.

That's the only explanation Jamie VanderBerg can offer for why anyone would break into a food bank and steal goods that are distributed for free.

That's what happened at some point last weekend, Aug. 14 to 15, when the door to the Welcome Inn Community Centre in the North End was broken open with a crowbar, and its walk-in fridge emptied of hundreds of dollars worth of donated food.

VanderBerg is executive director of the centre at 40 Wood St. E., between John Street North and Hughson Street North, a 10-minute walk from Pier 4 Park.

He suggested that while the act is not akin to rooting through a garbage bin for food, it's not far off.

It's an act of desperation," he told The Spectator.

He said that was one reason staff did not report the robbery to police. Instead they focused on repairing the badly damaged door in order to resume operations.

Food stolen included eggs, meat and yogurt, while a pantry of emergency supplies for seniors was emptied.

It's unclear how many people broke in, but VanderBerg believes it had to be more than one, using a cart or wagon, with the volume of food taken.

It was a lot of groceries. Even the onions were cleaned out."

VanderBerg said they know well the food insecurity people face, and that the pandemic has led to more first-time users of their food bank: 36 per cent of clients have been accessing it for the first time.

But we'd rather they knock on our door and we will gladly provide food in an ongoing way," he said. He added that an additional benefit of using their service is clients can access other community supports.

The centre has received donations of food and money from residents who learned of the theft from a Welcome Inn Facebook post. (To donate go to www.WelcomeInn.ca)

The post said security cameras will be installed around the building, and that neighbours are urged to call police if they see anything suspicious - while also suggesting they call the Hamilton police line for nonemergencies, rather than 911.

We love the North End and are proud to be part of this community," the post concluded.

Jon Wells is a Hamilton-based reporter and feature writer for The Spectator. Reach him via email: jwells@thespec.com