INSIDE: Paying for puppy’s surgery leaves SPCA in a bind
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August 1, 2013
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City’s online services hacked Residents’ banking data possibly at risk ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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– JEAN KONDA-WITTE/TIMES
Abbotsford Food Bank Warehousing and Group Co-ordinator Lynden Pennell arranges the last remaining jars of baby food Wednesday morning. “As fast ast it come in it’s going out that day,” he said. The Abbotsford Food Bank is in crisis mode with depleted stocks of baby food and formula. They are also complete out of staples such as rice, pasta or canned vegetable, items they cound on to fill their hampers.
Food bank facing severe summer drought
The Abbotsford-Mission Times will be featuring its Running on Empty series in coming weeks about the Abbotsford Food Bank and Mission Food Centre that highlights the work each organization does and some of the people they serve. Today’s feature focuses on a critical food shortage at the Abbotsford Food Bank.
ROCHELLE BAKER RBaker@abbotsfordtimes.com
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n the 13 years director Dave Murray has been working at the Abbotsford Food Bank, he’s never seen the shelves so bare. “This is the worst summer since I’ve been here,” said Murray. “We’ve run out of one or two
items before, but never a shopping Year to date, the food bank has list of staples all at once.” taken in $50,000 less in donations Summertime than in 2012, while tends to herald a demand is at an all dry spell in food “Baby food, formula, time high. and cash donations “It’s a combinadiapers. We’re out of to the organization, tion of a high numbut this year the everything. It’s a combiber of users, and we food bank is com- nation of a high number haven’t received as pletely out of many of users, and we haven’t much food as years of its cornerstone received as much food as past,” according to goods such as pasta, years past. It catches up Murray. rice, peanut butter, “It c a t c h e s u p canned vegetables with you.” with you.” and fruit. The food bank – Dave Murray All the goods for serves 6,000 people babies have also annually and 3,000 been depleted. mouths a month. “Baby food, formula, diapers. The number of clients spiked last We’re out of everything,” said Mur- summer and hasn’t diminished ray. since.
The makeup of the people using the food bank is varied, as are their stories, said Murray. Half the clients are single individuals and the remainder is comprised of single parent families, seniors and teens. Sometimes the public stereotypes or doesn’t understand the struggles of the people who attend the food bank, said Murray. “I think people sometimes drive by and they see the lineup and think, ‘Why don’t those people work?’” he said. “But there’s often more to that decision. For a single mom with three kids the cost of daycare far outweighs the wages she’d earn.” see FOOD, page A6
he City of Abbotsford is warning residents that their personal data, such as bank account numbers and addresses, may have been compromised, after software used to run the municipality’s online services was hacked. The secur ity breach was noticed by staff on July 16 and external access to online services was shut down to protect data, according to information posted on the city website. Abbotsford city manager George Murray said that the city has sent out more than 10,000 letters to residents who might be have been affected. No credit or debit card information was obtained and the city system doesn’t have personal information such as social insurance numbers or drivers’ licence data on file, stated the city. A security consultant hired by the city hasn’t found any evidence yet that there’s been any unauthorized access to citizens’ data, said Murray. The consultant believes the attempt to collect the information was intended for use in a phishing scam, he said. In phishing frauds, thieves use personal information in emails or phone calls to residents, trick them into thinking they are dealing with legitimate agencies, and then steal victims’ money. see HACKED, page A6
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Todd Chretien
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