A significant increase in food bank use has been observed over the past year. To address this rise and meet diverse dietary needs, the food bank has shifted to offering more fresh produce and perishable items in its hampers. This change has been well-received.
“We had 31 new people this month, and year to date we’ve had 198 new people access the food bank, so it continues to be on the rise,” said Community Ministries Director Ronza Reynard. She noted that while fresh items have always been available, dietary restrictions have prompted this adjustment.
“We’re finding more people are coming in with conditions like pre-diabetes, diabetes, celiac disease, and gluten intolerance. So we made a switch,” Reynard said. “Now, 80 per cent of our hampers include fresh food, more dairy, and more meat, with less packaged food.”
The food bank maintains stock of staple items such as peanut butter, soup, rice, pasta, cereal, canned meats, and beans, and regularly provides milk, potatoes, carrots, and a variety of fruits and vegetables.
“It was a bit of a struggle at first because people thought they were getting less, as the packaged items were reduced. But what they’re gaining is fresh food,” Reynard said.
The Salvation Army is also preparing for the new school year with its backpack program.
“I believe we had about 72 students sign up. We’ll be distributing those in the next week or so to help get kids ready for school,” she said.
Reynard noted that while school supplies are coming in, additional donations of binders, pens, pencils, and erasers are still needed. The program aims to offset back-to-school costs and provide parents ample time to purchase any additional classroom-specific materials.