Despite the highly publicized war and famine in Afghanistan, Canadian
farmers are donating about the same amount of their crops to food aid.
And regardless of the farm income crunch, farmers have not cut back
their contributions to world food aid.
Aid officials say farmers who give part of their crop for international
relief efforts tend to be committed, long-term donors who want to make
a contribution, regardless of that year’s particular circumstances on
their farm or in the world.
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“One of the most wonderful surprises is that people continue to
respond,” said William Reimer, a food aid co-ordinator with the
Mennonite Central Committee.
“It’s years and years of people that are really concerned.”
The Mennonite Central Committee has been heavily involved in disaster
aid for Afghanistan since the late 1990s. A string of droughts followed
by the recent war have left millions of Afghans living in refugee camps
and others scraping by in barren villages and farms.
The MCC is given money by Mennonite churches across Can-ada. The money
is then sent to places affected by disaster.
The MCC has been shipping lentils, grain, vegetable oil and blankets to
Afghanistan in a multi-year, multimillion dollar program.
It has also been providing a food program for widows, helping establish
safe drinking water sources and organizing small gardens.
The MCC has been working with the Iranian Red Crescent, an Islamic
version of the Red Cross, to deliver the aid and programs.
James Alty, logistics manager at the Canadian Foodgrains Bank, said the
13 churches that fund his organization often see donations increase in
times of high-profile trouble, such as the war in Afghanistan.
“There’s certainly a surge when there’s a natural calamity – or an
unnatural calamity in this case,” said Alty.
But while the churches accept any donations, “they encourage people to
look at contributing not for a specific instance, but for ongoing
programs that could be sidelined as a result of people designating
their donations.”
Alty said donation surges provide extra resources during sudden crises,
but the foodgrains bank relies on long-term commitments.
“We have a pretty dedicated constituency,” said Alty.
Reimer said MCC donations are often strengthened by matching donations
from other churches within the foodgrains bank and by the Canadian
International
Development Agency.
Reimer said the spirit of giving runs deep in Mennonite and other
religious communities.
“It’s very strong here in Manitoba, very strong in the West, very
strong in Ontario,” said Reimer.
“Farmers are really facing a great number of uncertainties, and at the
same time the donations have been very strong. It’s very heartening to
see.”
