The Director of Operations for Gleaners Food Bank says visits are up this year as they are at food banks across the country.
A report by Food Banks Canada indicates visits to food banks across the country have risen by 20% since 2019.
Susanne Quinlan says Gleaners was among the 4,700 food banks and organizations included in HungerCount 2021.
“We have seen 150 – 170 more clients per month since January. And sometimes it even … one month it was 220.”
Quinlan says the COVID-19 pandemic has not only increased food insecurity but also made it more difficult for the food bank to gather food.
“We have had to cancel two food drives which is eliminating 45 – 50 skids of food that would have been donated in the last two years. So we have to try to purchase that food or try to inspire individuals to do mini food drives for us because the annual city food drives could not happen with COVID-19.”
And with food being more expensive, Quinlan says monetary donations that they’ve received don’t go as far as they used to.
Gleaners is also in need of volunteers.
For details on how to donate or volunteer, click here gleanersfoodbank.ca.
