Too many people in our province are struggling to make ends meet, are suffering without basic necessities, relying on food banks, going hungry or sending their children to school hungry.
And nowhere in B.C. is that more apparent than in Surrey.
The 2016 B.C. Child Poverty Report Card revealed that Surrey has the highest number of children living in poverty of any jurisdiction in Metro Vancouver.
The report said 23,480 impoverished children live in our city – that’s a child poverty rate of about 21 per cent, higher than the national average of 18.5 and provincial average of 19.8 per cent.
Across the province, one out of five children are living in poverty, according to the report.
That’s why the province is asking us to put our heads together to help find solutions.
A community meeting for B.C.’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy is scheduled in Surrey for Thursday, Feb. 1.
Residents are invited to come share their ideas about how to reduce this dire situation in our province – and those ideas will help inform the Poverty Reduction Strategy that is scheduled to be released in the fall.
The meeting will be held at Princess Margaret Secondary (12870 72nd Ave.) from 6 to 8:30 p.m.
We hope Surrey residents pack the school cafeteria that night.
After all, your ideas could very well help improve the lives of your neighbours.
edit@surreynowleader.com
Like us on Facebook Follow us on Instagram and follow us on Twitter