The Portland Food Bank is seeing a sharp rise in demand as more households turn to its shelves heading into the holidays.
Manager Anita Cox says this year has been a major learning experience as she settles into her first year in the role.
On the most recent food bank day, nine new people signed up, including three single residents and a family of four. Cox says the stories behind those visits vary widely, from job loss to disability to people working full-time but still falling short.
Cox says volunteers focus on compassion and flexibility.
The Portland Food Bank keeps roughly 75 items stocked at all times.
If you’d like to help out, volunteers will be set up outside the LCBO and RBC on Saturday from 9 until noon as the RCL Automotive Build a Mountain of Food Campaign rolls into town.