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THAT'S THE SENTIMENT AMONG SOCIAL ASSISTANCE GROUPS IN BELLEVILLE -- AS THEY LOBBY THE ONTARIO GOVERNMENT FOR A HEALTHY FOODS PROVISION IN NEXT WEEK'S BUDGET.

JUST 100-DOLLARS, THEY SAY, COULD PREVENT A NUMBER OF SERIOUS HEALTH PROBLEMS.

NEWSWATCH'S MAX WARK REPORTS.

"THIS IS REALLY THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I'VE EVER GONE THROUGH THIS."

IT'S A SITUATION NO ONE WANTS TO FIND THEMSELVES IN... BUT ONE THAT'S BECOMING INCREASINGLY COMMON IN QUINTE DURING THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.

RECENTLY LAID OFF, DENNIS GALLANT NOW HAS TO RELY ON WELFARE TO HELP PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE.

GALLANT:

"THERE ARE LOST OF HELPFUL COMMUNITY SERVICES OUT THERE BUT IT'S STILL SOMETIMES JUST NOT ENOUGH."

HIS STORY IS ONE OF HUNDREDS IN THE QUINTE REGION.

WHICH IS WHY SOCIAL SUPPORT GROUPS HAVE TEAMED UP TO MAKE HUNGER HISTORY.

MCCALLUM:

"IT CALLS ON THE PREMIER AND THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT TO ADD A $100 HEALTHY FOOD SUPPLEMENT TO THE SOCIAL ASSISTANCE BENEFITS FOR ALL ADULTS IN ONTARIO."

WARK:

"BUT JUST HOW MUCH DIFFERENCE WOULD 100 DOLLARS A MONTH MAKE?

A RECENT SURVEY OF PEOPLE ON ONTARIO WORKS FOUND THAT A SINGLE MAN AGED 25 TYPICALLY FALLS 96 DOLLARS A MONTH SHORT FOR HISBILLS.

MOST MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE BY SACRIFICING HEALTHY EATING HABITS."

GALLANT:

"YOU GET INTO ALMOST A FLOW OF EATING JUST NORMAL, CHEAP FOODS."

PASTAS BECOME PART OF THE DAILY DIET FOR FIXED INCOME RECIPIENTS, LIKE GALLANT.

UNFORTUNATELY, THINGS LIKE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, GET LEFT IN THE GROCERY STORE.

MCCALLUM:

"PEOPLE WHO EXPERIENCE CHRONIC FOOD INSECURITY OR A LACK OF SOME OF THE NUTRIENTS ARE AT A HIGHER RISK FOR VARIOUS CHRONIC DISEASES LIKE HEART DISEASE, DIABETES, DEPRESSION AND SOME TYPES OF CANCER."

TO AVOID THOSE HEALTH CARE COSTS, THE 'FOOD IN THE BUDGET' CAMPAIGN IS A PIECE OF A MUCH BIGGER 2.4 BILLION DOLLAR POVERTY REDUCTION PLAN.

INGERSOLL:

"IF THEY'RE NOT EATING HEALTHY IT'S JUST GOING TO END UP BEING A BIGGER PROBLEM."

THE ANSWER TO THAT PROBLEM WILL HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL MARCH 26TH WHEN THE PROVINCE LAYS OUT ITS BUDGET.

MAX WARK, CKWS NEWSWATCH, BELLEVILLE.