Brampton food bank not serving international students

It's disheartening to hear that food banks across Canada are facing an unprecedented demand, especially as the busiest season approaches. The Peel Food Bank in Brampton, with 40 years of service, is witnessing a significant increase in the number of international students seeking assistance. Despite the organization daily registering only a handful of new applicants, the alarming surge in international students relying on food banks in the past two months is a cause for concern. Shockingly, some visitors seeking aid even hold tourist visas.
A sign outside the Brampton Food Bank boldly declares, "We do not serve international students." According to Ottawa's regulations, foreign students are required to have a minimum of $10,000 per academic year (or $833 per month) to cover living expenses. However, some students take loans to come to Canada, repay the money upon arrival, and find themselves in need of services like food banks. This issue not only strains resources but also diminishes the ability to provide essential support to families, seniors, people with disabilities, refugees, and other groups genuinely in need.
Some videos on platforms like YouTube encourage international students to utilize food banks in Canada for free meals. It's a complex situation that calls for both short-term solutions to address immediate needs and long-term strategies to support vulnerable populations.

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