Food drive supports local food bank as need surges in Steinbach

Residents of Steinbach are working to help rebuild the inventory of a community food bank. Jon Hendricks reports.

Steinbach residents are raising both money and food to support a local organization facing one of its toughest shortages in years.

Steinbach’s Helping Hands food bank has been providing food hampers to those in need for over 40 years. But this week, the organization found itself in an unfamiliar position—asking the community for help as its inventory dropped to critically low levels.

Officials say supplies had fallen to their lowest point in six or seven years, driven by a sharp rise in demand.

“When we first started off, we were maybe 60 families,” said Operations Manager Ken Dyck. “And we kept jumping.” Today, the food bank supports approximately 350 families each month.

While all shelves aren’t bare, they’re getting very low. For example, there is still a supply of plain pasta—but little sauce to go with it.

“We used to have lots, about eight pallets of pasta sauce to go with it,” said Office Manager Kali Loeppky. “We’re now down to one pallet.”

At the current rate, Loeppky estimated the food bank had only about a month’s worth of supplies remaining.

Dyck said when the Steinbach City Council and others heard their inventory levels had fallen to dangerously low levels, the community sprang into action. On Wednesday, a food drive was held at a grocery store.

“There’s a group going around collecting $1,000 worth of groceries,” said Dyck. “Another person came in and gave us a $10,000 cheque. And money is coming. Food is coming. It’s amazing to see what’s all coming together.”

Thanks to this outpouring of support, the immediate crisis appears to be easing. The food bank expects to continue providing healthy food to people in need in their community.

However, officials stress that the need remains ongoing. Donations of cash and non-perishable food items are still being accepted to keep up with growing demand and ensure people are met with support.