Tough times leave shelves bare at food bank

BY NADINE ARMSTRONG

The Hants Journal

NovaNewsNow.com

When times are tough, people tend to hoard more and give less. It’s simple cause and effect, but tough on area food banks that rely on donations.

Cindy Loane, coordinator for Matthew 25 in Windsor, says their cupboard is nearly bare. “We’ve been left to purchase everything; there just aren’t the donations coming in.”

Although summers are typically a dry season for food banks, this is the first time they’ve faced empty donation bins and slow food drives. “When we go to the stores the donation boxes are almost always empty. People just forget about us in the summer and I think, right now, people are also afraid to spend,” she said.

The food bank receives the bulk of its operating costs at Christmas-time through cash donations from individuals and businesses. However, this year there was less to go around and very little coming in.

Loane notes each additional trip to the grocery store puts a huge dent in those resources. “We’re still buying, but we’ve had to cut down” and cut corners, Loane said.

Instead of tins of real juice, they’ve switched to packaged juice crystals. They have had to skimp on meat purchases, as well. “There is some nutrition loss and it’s not what we would like to give, but it’s very difficult on a budget.”

Even staples such as canned beans that usually crowd the shelves are in short supply. “We’ve had to come up with ingenious ways of filling a food box,” she said. “Food bank staff has a formula to follow when filling boxes, but have had to supplement some staple items with fillers. We just try to make it enough, but that’s getting harder to do.”

Orders are strong, says Feed Nova Scotia

Feed Nova Scotia’s executive director, Dianne Swinemar, says, however, their orders to food banks are very strong right now. “We’re keeping up with all orders to those agencies in accordance to the Canadian Food Guide.”

She said rather than dropping off, donations are increasing. “What’s happening is the public acknowledges that if times are tough on them it will be an even greater stress for people on low or fixed income and so they’ve responded accordingly.”

Feed Nova Scotia continues to make weekly deliveries to all member agencies according to the needs of the population, she said. “What we give them is supplemented by their own supply. It’s when our supplies are down that there is a concern, but that’s not the case.” She said if their stores are up it’s a good sign local food banks are doing well.

Been difficult to meet the need: Loane

But Loane says it has been difficult to meet the needs of the more than 300 individuals they help each month. “Everyone is having a hard time right now and people have to think of themselves as well. It’s hard to give donations when you don’t know how long your own groceries will last.”

However, every little bit helps, she said. “People often think they have to give a lot, but really if everyone gives just one item that adds up quickly.”

It’s a matter of thinking outside the box. Even garden greens, berries or fish are welcome. “If people are out fishing or picking berries they can always bring those in, too,” Loane said. They won’t turn any fresh items in season away. “Our mandate is nobody goes hungry and no matter what, we will stick to that.”