Food bank campaigns aim to support growing demand

The Barrie Food Bank wraps up its spring campaign as concerns mount over rising demand for support.

Foodbanks across the region are anticipating a big decline in donations as the summer season approaches. With no reduction of those in need - it’s a tricky time of the year, especially for clients of the food bank who call it a lifeline at times.

“It helps families in need because of how expensive everything - inflation is crazy,” said Barrie resident Wendy Butler-Henderson. “I find the food bank really helps people that need it.”

Staff and volunteers at the Barrie Food Bank are hard at work wrapping up the Spring Forward Give Back campaign that launched last month and aimed to collect 100,000 pounds of food items and raise $250,000.

Bell Media’s Feeding Families Food Drive helped collect 21,000 pounds of non-perishable food for the campaign that ended today.

Karen Shuh is the executive director of the food bank and said they see an annual increase of 12 per cent year-over-year.

“Just over 7,000 individuals - we are up over 10 per cent in March over February and we saw a lot of extra clients coming though because of the ice storm... having lost everything in their fridges and freezers,” Shuh explained.

The situation is very similar at The Sharing Place in Orillia, which hands out seven days worth of food every month to more than 2,500 people. While financial donations are preferred, the food bank is quick to remind people even the smallest of donation can make a difference.

“Donating $25 or $5, every penny counts, but if I add up all the donations that are under $200 it’s the biggest donor that we have,” said the Orillia food bank’s executive director Chris Peacock. “So all those donations matter. Some people feel like they are not making a difference by giving us $5 or $10 a month - that’s a huge deal and we are greatly appreciative.”

School Fuel Month is coming to an end at The Sharing Place. Every dollar donated, up to $20,000, will be matched by the local Home Hardware. Donations will be accepted until midnight.