Really?!

Here's the latest:  Those dipping in at one Mississauga Muslim food bank are complaining about the selection.  Seriously?  Seriously. 

Predominately from Syria, those "shopping" at that bank are turning up their noses at "Canadian" food and demanding things like chickpeas, lentils and halal items.  "These people are new to this country.  At least with food, they want to eat something they're familiar with," said Najam Syed, head of the bank.

Didn't food banks used to pack boxes with staples and give them to the needy as they deemed fit with what had been donated?  They did, but now it's boutique service at the average bank.  You could not make this up and by the way, it could only happen in Canada. 

Last time I was in a local grocery store, I noticed there are a number of aisles filled with ethic food for purchase.  In fact, I was hard-pressed to find a can of mushroom soup.  Oh, I guess these are being re-routed to food banks where they languish snubbed.  This is ridiculous.  Why not load up at the food bank and then spend a little of your own money -- generously donated by ordinary Canadians -- in an actual store on the special things you can't live without. 

Food Banks Canada supports a network of more than 500 across the country -- not counting the private banks in churches and local communities.  "We can ask for rice and lentils until we're blue in the face," said Jon Davey, manager of distribution, "but pasta, soup and snacks are things that are constantly being donated and our 'clients' don't want them."  Really?  So, donors such as Campbell's, General Mills, PepsiCo are being turned away.  If so, I trust halal butchers and local grocerterias are stepping up to fill the gap.  Oh, but wait, they're not because the banks still lack the desired items.      

Davey also said he regularly refuses large quantities of food he considers "unhealthy" -- things I sometimes give my grandchildren, such as Kraft Dinner and Scooby Doo noodles.  No wonder food banks are being criticized for being too picky.  "People who come to food banks want to eat more healthy(sic)," he added.  Really?  Again, pop into the nearest grocery store and grab some lettuce, for Gawd's sake. 

My other question is, can non-Muslims use the Muslim food banks?  Don't even want to know the answer to that one.  And don't label me "racist".  We're all the same race, the human race.  It's culture that's at issue here.