A single mother of four says the Langley Food Bank cut her off for going to school.
Heidi Dosch told The Times she was taking an accelerated course to upgrade her education and would have been forced to skip classes to come in when the Food Bank wanted her to re-qualify as a client.
Dosch was forced to stop working as a licensed practical nurse because of severe back problems that left her on disability.
She is re-training for less physically demanding work as a paralegal and the eight-week course was to upgrade her qualifications so she can attend university.
Dosch said she was warned missing a day of classes would get her kicked out, so she phoned the food bank and said she couldn’t make the appointment.
“I thought the food bank, being the food bank, would understand,” Dosch said.
Dosch says she offered to come in before her classes started, but was refused.
“I was told my name hadn’t come up on the list yet,” Dosch said.
When she went to the food bank with her bank statements, rent receipts and income assistance stubs, Dosch said she was told she was being taken off the list for missing her appointment.
She would have to wait six weeks before she could re-apply.
“I left there pretty upset because they had a lot of good food in,” Dosch said.
“It doesn’t seem very Christian-like. I’m a single mom with four kids and I need to rely on the food bank.”
Her employment insurance has run out and Dosch is currently on social assistance.
At the time of her suspension, there wasn’t much food in the house, she said.
“I had sauce, but no noodles,” Dosch said.
“My milk was low.”
Her youngest child is a year old, her oldest is 16.
Dosch was rescued with donated food vouchers supplied by some sympathetic strangers who overheard her talking about her suspension.
Her church has also come to her assistance.
“We always know that God will provide, somehow,” Dosch said.
Dosch, who was named valedictorian of her class, has since completed her course and will begin university in September.
In the meantime, she hopes going public with her story will convince the food bank to be more flexible in the future.
“All I want is to see these silly policies changed.”
When contacted by The Times, Langley Food Bank manager Naomi Chambers declined to comment.
“We don’t address specific client situations, due to privacy,” Chambers told The Times on Tuesday.
Chambers also refused to comment on the suspension policy, but the food bank web site states clients must re-apply at regular intervals to prove their eligibility or risk losing benefits.
“In order to remain a client, clients must also have their registration reviewed every six months to ensure that all information on file is accurate and up to date.”
The website says there are currently about 600 “client families” registered at the Langley Food Bank.
“Including dependents, we are helping over 1,000 people with their food requirements each week,” the site says.
In 2013, the food bank says it provided over 19,000 hampers. The Langley Food Bank opened in September of 1989 and currently is open for distribution every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at 5768 203 St.
The Langley Food Bank Society also operates the Aldergrove Food Bank and the Birthday Closet program that provides new toys to parents of children 12 years and younger.
An online mission statement says the society aims to express “God’s compassion” to the poor and needy.
“God’s heart towards the poor is not one of harshness or judgment, but rather one of mercy, compassion, forgiveness, and help,” the message says.
Under “Client Eligibility Requirements” the food bank says it aims “to provide a helping hand, not free handouts that reinforce long-term dependency.”