Community in need

• Food insecurity on the rise locally and nationally
• Monetary donations stretch further with food banks
• Rise in cost-of-living strains charities

Food banks across Canada have had increased demand for their services, and they expect that to grow. That surge has been felt here in the Okanagan too.

“The financial strain the pandemic has had over the past two years on an individual is just astronomical,” Tammie Watson, chief development officer for the Central Okanagan Food Bank told Kelowna10.

“We are still seeing people who were affected by the recent forest fires here needing an extra helping hand and that’s why we’re seeing our numbers increase again.”

In the last two months, the local food bank had a 12 per cent increase in demand. They project a further 19 per cent surge for their Christmas hampers over the holiday season.

The Central Okanagan Food Bank warehouse serves approximately 54,000 people every year. 34 per cent are children, about another 20 per cent are seniors who live on a fixed income.

It’s one of four national food sharing hubs and they distribute to 32 food banks in outlying smaller communities.

Not only have the pandemic and natural disasters built up the surge but so have economic factors. Both this year and last, food prices increased by about five per cent.

Meat and vegetables are also five to six percent more costly than they were before the pandemic. Dairy products may see an increase of eight to 10 per cent in the future.

“When we see all these food cost rises, the gas pricing rise, the rise in rent, it’s no wonder that people are still struggling. We just haven’t recovered financially yet from the pandemic,” Watson said.

“It’s those who are already struggling financially who it will affect the most.”

She added over the last 20 months they saw a rise in the number of people getting assistance from the Food Bank who had never set foot in one before.

The public can help by donating food at either the Kelowna or West Kelowna location Monday thru Friday, and by giving monetarily online.

Financial donations go a long way because the Food Bank has relationships with local grocers and farmers who sell extra food at a reduced price. Every $1 donated becomes $3 in purchased goods to those in need.

Another way to help the community is to volunteer your time at the Food Bank itself.

Anyone in need of food donations is encouraged to visit cofoodbank.com and register as a client or call 250-763-7161 to receive assistance.