Food bank needs help

“We’re trying to help out the people in need with an extra month, but we need help,” said Bruce Hopkins, the Yarmouth Food Bank coordinator.

The situation is the result of several factors, he said, including an increase in the number of people using the food bank and rising food prices. “The numbers are up and the cost of food has gone up over the years and it’s making it a little difficult for us,” he said.

In his 16 years of being involved with the food bank he has never seen the stocks so low, he said.

Referring to higher food prices, the food bank is affected in at least a couple of ways, he said, noting that food bank contributors perhaps aren’t able to donate as much as they did before if they have to pay more for their own food while the food bank itself has to spend more to try to keep its shelves stocked.

The food bank benefits from the efforts of various organizations – churches, service clubs etc. – that conduct food drives, but these are over for now and aren’t scheduled to resume again until the fall.

The food bank lately has been serving, on average, between 350 and 375-or-so families per month.

The bank serves clients from the Yarmouth area and gets some as well from Shelburne County and Clare.

Established 20 years ago, the food bank is open Tuesdays from 12:30 to 3 p.m.

Although the facility will remain in operation an additional month this year before closing for the summer, Hopkins says the food bank is thinking not just of its immediate needs but is looking at the longer term too, so donations will be accepted to help ensure the bank can continue to serve those is need both now and in the future.

Food donations can be dropped off at the Yarmouth fire hall or Price Chopper.

People also can contact Hopkins if they would like to contribute to the food bank.