The demand continues to grow.
The number of people accessing the Barrie Food Bank was up 94 per cent last month compared to August 2022.
"That translates into about 5,600 individuals that were supported with food by the food bank," according to Sharon Palmer, Barrie Food Bank executive director. "Those are people who are accessing the monthly shopping program, and on top of that, we have about 450 visits to our emergency pantry.
The emergency pantry is primarily aimed at people who are experiencing homelessness or if they are a family that needs support between that 30-day shop.
"It's a small amount of food, about eight items or so," explains Palmer.
With more and more people seeking help, Palmer says donations to the food bank are critical and it's why the Thanksgiving food drive, which lasts until the end of October, has lofty goals.
The target is to collect $200,000 and 200,000 pounds of food.
As housing and grocery costs continue to pinch pocketbooks, the food bank has developed strategies to try and keep up with the demand for help.
"We're working on food rescue," says Palmer. "So, working with the local grocery stores and the other businesses and farmers. This time of year, sometimes farmers have surplus items that they can share with us. It's really very, very helpful for us and it's win-win because it keeps food from being wasted or going into the garbage."
"This is food that is good quality and can be eaten."
In the past, Palmer says some stores would end up throwing things out if they had no place to put it.
"We work really hard to rescue any food that's available in the community that we can take and use."
Palmer says they see more and more people on fixed incomes using the food bank.
Examples she cites include those on Ontario Works, the Ontario Disability Support Program and seniors.
"From a government policy perspective, I would always think first to those programs and making sure that they're keeping up with the cost of living, particularly when you think about the huge increases in rents."
File Photo - Barrie 360
