As the cost of living remains high and many continue to struggle, the Strathcona Food Bank is seeing an unprecedented spike in demand.
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Anke Berner, secretary for the Strathcona Food Bank board of directors, said the increase is noticeable and everyone is feeling the pinch.
“Demand is going up. It’s alarming,” Berner told members of local business community at the Wednesday, Sept. 20 Sherwood Park and District Chamber of Commerce luncheon.
In August alone, the food bank created more than 500 hampers helping more than 1,500 people in one month, which was a new record high for the non-profit. In addition, it supported 86 agencies last month.
Since 2020, demand has increased nearly 100 per cent.
“In one year, we have seen a 35 per cent increase in demand,” Berner said. “Compared to 2021 and 2020, our demand is almost doubled at a 98 per cent increase. We also track how may new families we help, and we’re average at least one new family each day that we are open.”
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The increase in demand has also led to the non-profit to expand its hours to help serve those in need better. It has also stationed a small pantry at the Family and Community Services office to support their clients.
“We are now open for hamper pick-up on Thursdays from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. and have recently opened for hamper pick up on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. in addition to our regular pick-up hours of Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m.,” Berner said.
The expanded hours has been a welcome change for those who could not always make it to the food bank.
“We changed the hours to deal with the high demand but also to respond to the changing needs of clients, since we know there are people who couldn’t come on weekday mornings,” Berner said.
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With the summer over, which is generally a slower season for donations, Berner hopes Strathcona County residents will continue to support the food bank through the upcoming holidays and winter months.
“Our move to provide more nutritious hampers by doubling the amount of meat, dairy and produce we give to our clients coincided with soaring grocery prices,” she said. “Our wallet is affected just like everyone’s wallets in Strathcona County. We are grateful we have the resources to continue to purchase all the items needed for the hampers.”
With Halloween is just around the corner, there will be several venues collecting for the Strathcona Food Bank, including the Clarkdale Creepshow and Haunting for Hunger.
— With files from Lindsay Morey
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