The fact that this was not what the poor wanted and that it didn't really help many of them in the short term and actually hurt them in the long term was not the issue. Of course, we know that if the poor live in rural areas or they are ill or ill-informed or if they have as much dignity as we do, food banks do not really help them. We also know that food banks depend on volunteers and donations so they vary a lot and not every community has one. We all know that it isn't the most effective way to help the poor. We all agree that is not the point.
Food banks fulfill the urge to do something.
Today, we don't get to participate in debates. We feel powerless so it feels good to have someone to look down on. And if we had chosen justice instead of charity, we would have had to treat the poor as equals and accept the fact that we may be next. That is, it's one thing to force people to ask for charity to feed their children but no one would dare make the sick pay for health services. Poverty is increasing in Canada, particularly for young families and the working poor.