Miranda Mirlycourtois, aged 34, speaks candidly into the camera, admitting to being among the many Manitobans who have utilized Harvest Manitoba’s food bank services over the past year. In a video shared on the Instagram account for her Winnipeg-based spray-tan business, Tan Mommy Glow Co., she urges her clientele to contribute non-perishable items to Harvest, emphasizing that these items could potentially circle back to her own table.
Mirlycourtois, a single mother to a 10-year-old daughter, recollects receiving her initial food hamper from Harvest Manitoba eight years ago, expressing profound relief at the time. Although circumstances have evolved since then, she vividly remembers the abundance of food provided and how it significantly aided her family.
Harvest Manitoba’s 2025 Voices report indicates that up to 60,000 Manitobans access food banks monthly. Mirlycourtois, drawing from her personal experience, highlights the importance of understanding that anyone could find themselves in need of assistance one day.
Reflecting on her family’s history of using food bank services, Mirlycourtois recounts her mother’s reliance on Harvest during her childhood, shaping her perception of the reality many face. While she doesn’t require aid every month, she voices her frustration at the escalating cost of living, which strains her financial resources and triggers anxiety during grocery shopping trips.
Harvest Manitoba’s CEO, Vince Barletta, notes that a significant portion of those seeking support are employed individuals, emphasizing the impact of affordability challenges on the working class. External factors such as inflation disproportionately affect lower-income earners, as highlighted by Jesse Hajer, an economics and labor studies professor at the University of Manitoba.
The report underscores that households earning less than $20,000 annually constitute 65% of those accessing food banks in Manitoba, with living expenses averaging over $1,600 per month. Hajer advocates for inflation-indexed programs tailored to support low-income households, stressing the need for government intervention to assist those most in need.
Mirlycourtois advocates for reducing the stigma associated with food bank users, particularly those with jobs, by sharing her own journey. She emphasizes the unpredictability of financial stability, expressing a desire to help others in similar situations and promote understanding of the potential vulnerability many face.
While relieved that she currently doesn’t require food bank assistance, Mirlycourtois acknowledges the uncertainty of the future. For her, success lies in achieving stability and peace of mind, rather than material possessions, as she navigates the challenges of balancing expenses and maintaining financial security.