The Barrie Food Bank, thanks to support from the community, is finding a way to keep up with surging demand.
The warehouse at 42 Anne St. S was buzzing with activity Tuesday as volunteers worked to prepare care packages for families coming in for their Christmas dinners.
“The demand has been higher than we have ever seen before and numbers are going through the roof,” said Sharon Palmer, the organization's executive director. “Thankfully, the community is being responsive and we have had strong financial donations as well as strong food donations.”
Some of those strong food donations are coming in today from a local butcher and the Canadian Forces.
Wayne Hay is an honourary colonel with Base Borden and oversaw the Canadian Forces School of Aviation Technology and Engineering (CFSATE) as they packaged 200 meals - half for the Barrie Food Bank and half for the Angus Food Bank.
The packing took place at Bokkie’s Biltong at 30 Saunders Rd. and saw each box filled with potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, a turkey and other items, all ready to ship to both food banks.
Hay told BarrieToday that this was what he enjoyed most about his position: “helping the community and making sure that people get a little extra help at Christmas.”
Bokkie’s Biltong owner Anneke Lovegrove said she and Hay began collaborating about a month ago and started the physical packaging Tuesday morning.
“This is very important. I have been blessed and my kids have been blessed and I feel it is very important that we give back to the community whenever we can,” said Lovegrove.
In November alone, the food bank provided for 1,120 households and in the most recent week they were seeing numbers at 130 to 150 a day, Palmer said, adding those numbers are peaking right now and she expects to see the same this week, but also noted a statistic that caught her attention.
“The interesting thing we are seeing is how many people are coming in that haven’t been here in a long time,” said Palmer. “We do track over time and we’re seeing people who haven’t been here in a year, two or even three years. It appears people are getting to the point where they need extra help.”
Palmer pointed out that while some people think the food bank is there for those experiencing homelessness, it is actually helpful to folks from a wide variety of circumstances.
“Sometimes, it's the high cost of rent, food or gas. All these things can lead to needing the food bank and that little extra help. It could be reduced hours at work, or the loss of a job, maybe the death of a loved one. There are situations for everyone and donations that come in could end up meaning a few days of solace for a family," said Palmer.
The Barrie Food Bank is serving clients between 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Thursday evenings from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
They will be closed the week between Christmas and New Year's Day except for Wednesday, Dec. 29 from 1 p.m. to 3:30 pm when they’ll be handing out some food care packages to help those needing a little help in the holiday week.
