‘Spring into Action’ campaign ready to help families in need

The Barrie Food Bank’s annual spring campaign has launched amid rising food insecurity and inflation across Simcoe County.

The Barrie Food Bank has officially launched its spring campaign as it looks to collected monetary and food donations to support families in need this spring.

Karen Shuh, the executive director of the Barrie Food Bank, said the campaign comes at a time when donations from the holiday season are running out.

“This is going to be the last of the food choices right now and so the spring campaign is helpful for us to restock those shelves for the lean spring and summer months,” said Shuh.

With a goal of the “Spring into Action” campaign to collect more than $250,000 and 100,000 pounds of food.

The food bank currently supports more than 7,500 people each month, a six per cent increase from last year.

“We’re seeing first time users. So, we had close to 400 people who had never used and come to us last month but also seniors,” said Shuh. “We had 377 seniors, and that is growing at a rate of 21 per cent year over year.”

With the amount of people to help, assistance is needed and local groups are stepping up.

LCBO retail associates and staff throughout the region were at the food bank on Tuesday to sort through donations and lend a helping hand.

Kendra Greenwood, LCBO regional director for central north region, said giving back to the community in an impactful way was important to the group.

“Take pride in that that we made an impact here in Barrie at the food bank, but also for our employees to feel valued and connected,” said Greenwood. “We’re doing something great in the community for everyone.”

From donation box at the store, to the shelves at the foodbank Shuh said volunteers and employees are busy making sure they can provide for families who need assistance.

“When you donate it into the grocery store bin, it gets picked up by our recovery drivers every day because we have two vans on the road six days a week picking up that food,” said Shuh. “It comes to us and we store it in these big black bins.”

After review and sorted, the food is on the shelf the next day.

William Gibbons is the warehouse lead at the Barrie Food Bank and said people are encouraged to come and see how the food bank operates, as it shows how much work is happening behind the scenes.

“It’s important because of the awareness it spreads. It can be anywhere from future volunteers coming here to work with us, to future donors, to help out with filling these shelves to begin with,” said Gibbons.

Gibbons added the work done inside the food bank is fulfilling.

“To be able to help out and to be able to do, honestly, the little things. Like if you see a little kid in line, bring a popsicle or a freezie and just help make this an atmosphere where it’s not a struggle,” said Gibbons.

The ‘Spring into Action’ campaign will run until the first weekend of April.