More than 1,600 Toronto families received free grocery gift cards Tuesday, after a crippling ice storm hit parts of Eastern and Central Canada. But the demand for the cards by Toronto residents, whose food spoiled during the power outage, was much higher than anticipated.
Residents at some of the 15 Ontario Works offices in Toronto, where the gift cards are being distributed, were disappointed to discover that the cards have run out.
"They said come Thursday but you might not get anything. They don't know what’s going on. Some people spent their last money getting here," said a Toronto man, who was turned away at the Golden Mile Employment and Social Services office in the city’s east end on Tuesday.
Lineups at the Golden Mile Ontario Works office started forming as early as 6:30 a.m. By the time doors opened at 8:30 a.m., a long queue had already formed.
"They are going to have their hands full. There’s no security out here. They don’t even know what’s going on," said another Toronto man, who also walked away empty-handed.
The government said more cards will be distributed Thursday and Friday through the Ontario works offices.
On Monday, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne announced that more than $200,000 in gift cards will be handed out to Toronto residents who had to throw out spoiled food as a result of last week’s ice storm.
Grocery store giants Loblaw, Metro and Sobeys have each chipped in $25,000. Shoppers Drug Mart also donated $25,000 in gift cards and Coppas Fresh Market donated $5,000. Donations will be matched by the Ontario government, to a maximum of $100,000.
Families in need are eligible to receive $100 gift card while individuals are eligible to receive a $50 card.
Toronto Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly, who was at the Golden Mile office Tuesday morning, said he is hoping more businesses will step up and donate additional gift cards.
"I would have anticipated that there would be a heavy pickup but I was quite taken aback by the numbers that were here so early," Kelly told reporters.
An email statement from the Office of the Premier said the Daily Bread Food Bank is currently working to restock the cards at the locations where they have run out. That is expected to happen later this afternoon.
"We know that the response has been very positive and offices which have distributed gift cards are being replenished today," said Zita Astravas, a spokesperson for the Ontario government.
With a report from CTV Toronto's Paul Bliss
