Trenton’s Care and Share Food Bank is reporting a sharp increase in the number of people needing help.
Craig Olivier, General Manager of the food bank, says that they’ve handed out 40% more food than the previous year.
“Last year from January through to the end of September, we had served approximately 2080 hampers, is what we distributed in the Trenton area,” said Olivier. “And this year from January 1 through to the end of September of this year we have served 2824.”
Olivier went on to say that they had noticed an upward trend starting in April and continuing until now, and that they are now approaching 900 people a month needing food assistance. In April they were providing food to 700 individuals. One third of recipients are children.
A report from Food Banks Canada says the number of people using food banks across the country hit an all time high earlier this year, with nearly 1.5 million visits to food banks in March. That figure is 15% higher than the visits in March of 2021, and 35% higher than pre-pandemic levels.
Olivier says that those who want to help can donate food at drop boxes at most local grocery stores or donate money via their website. The current most needed foods are peanut free snack foods for children’s school lunches, such as granola bars, applesauce, drink boxes or other snacks. Other in-demand items include proteins like peanut butter, canned meats, and canned beans. Staples like rice and pasta are also needed.
Care and Share also handles non-food essential hygiene items. Olivier says they are often short of shampoo as they don’t get a lot of it donated. He also mentioned that toothbrushes and toothpaste, deodorant and feminine hygiene products are in demand.
A full list of items needed and drop-off locations, as well as details on how to make a cash donation, can be found on their website here.
