Pre-COVID-19, Sarnia’s Inn of the Good Shepherd food bank would spend up to $5,000 a month on food, if donations fell short of demand, it’s executive director says.
Lately, that expense has been four to five times as great, said Myles Vanni.
During the last two months, more than $80,000 worth of food has been purchased, he said.
It’s a combination of more demand and fewer donations, both fueled by rising grocery prices, rising housing costs, and no change in years for social assistance rates, Vanni said.
“That’s made it a lot more difficult for people,” he said, adding more people are showing up to the food bank, and others are showing up more often.
Usage is about 2,100 people a month, up 20 per cent from last year, he said.
“We’re distributing about 50,000, 55,000 pounds (22,500, 25,000 kilograms) of food every month” and donations aren’t keeping pace, he said.
“We’re used to (donations) being down, to a degree, in the summer” as people vacation, he said.
“But we’re double the amount of purchasing we’re doing.”
Hopes are this year’s Thanksgiving food drive raises 50,000 pounds, enough to cover a month’s supply, he said.
Bags are being distributed in Sarnia This Week copies, the week of Sept. 25, to help restock shelves at the food bank, he said.
Last year’s drive raised upwards of 22,500 kilograms, he said, noting typically the drive raises 16,000 kg to 18,000 kg.
“So, we’re hoping for a little bit extra, which might be a bit of a reach because everyone is feeling that pinch for donations; but we’re hoping people will kind of dig a little deeper,” he said.
“Our community usually will come through when there’s that extra need.”
About 27,000 donation bags are being distributed that can be dropped off at grocery stores, fire halls, at the food bank or the Good Shepherd’s Lodge, officials said in a news release.
The drive runs until Oct. 16.
People also can donate money at theinnsarnia.caVanni said.
Most needed items include peanut butter and jam, canned meat, canned pasta, pasta and pasta sauce, snacks for kids and juice boxes, crackers, soups and stews, and side dishes.