The Table Community Food Centre and Smiths Falls Community Food Bank say sometimes it’s hard to keep up with demand, as more and more members of our communities turn to food banks for help.
The Table’s Haley Wolk says demand is higher than ever before in the region.
The Smiths Falls Community Food Bank’s Natalia Soteroff says demand continues to grow and they’ve had to adjust how they serve clients. She says tension with the US is only making the situation worse.
Wolk adds the needs of the community really kicked into high gear during the COVID-19 pandemic and has only grown.
Soteroff agrees saying the use of her food bank drastically climbed during the pandemic and hasn’t really gone down. It’s a sentiment that has been echoed at Food Banks across our listening area.
So, they have to fill in the blanks. Soteroff says only a few years ago they’d have to go shopping every couple of weeks for supplies because demand was low, but now it’s every week and sometimes twice a week.
With grocery costs and demand so high, they’ve dedicated volunteers to shop around so they can manage their donations.
Wolk says they’re grateful to be in a thoughtful community.
The 88.1 myFM All Hands on Deck Food Drive takes place today at Metro Perth and Barnabe’s Your Independent Grocer, also in Perth from 10 until 4. Proceeds and food collected will go to both the Table and SF Food Bank.
