Donations, volunteers needed for food bank

“I’m quite concerned,” said Mimi Champagne, chairperson of the food bank board of directors.

“The number of clients have increased over the summer and we expect it will increase even further over the winter because of higher costs for food and fuel,” said Champagne.

“Although we appreciate the donations we receive from the community and businesses, we’re going to need more or we will be forced to reduce the amount of food we’re giving out to people,” said Champagne.

Already the shelves at the food bank are beginning to empty. The stock room isn’t exactly well stocked either, with only canned soups and puddings in reserve.

The food bank is especially in need of canned goods including canned meats, fish, stews, vegetables, chunky soups, pasta sauces, baked beans, fruit and milk. Pastas, cereals, cheese whiz, peanut butter and flour are also high on the list of priorities, as are items to prepare school lunches.

Food donations for the food bank can be dropped off at the King Street Centre and at Sobeys.

Monetary donations can be left at the Community Business Development Centre in Enterprise Square, or mailed to the Shelburne Loyalist Food Bank at Box 1403, Shelburne, N.S. B0T 1W0. Tax receipts are issued for any monetary donations.

The food bank is also in need of volunteers to help in several capacities. “We need volunteers to help serve clients on Wednesday mornings,” said Champagne. “We also need volunteers to receive truck deliveries from Feed Nova Scotia on Mondays and to shelve groceries from the truck deliveries.”

The food bank also needs volunteers to shop twice a month.

Anyone interested in helping out at the food bank can contact volunteer coordinator Gloria Corbett at 902-875-1552.

The Shelburne Loyalist Food Bank is open Wednesday mornings from 9:30 a.m. to noon.

Clients are supplied with groceries once a month.