The Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge needs your help.
Executive director Danielle McIntyre says recent times have been “bleak” for the local food bank. “It has been a struggle all year round,” she told My Lethbridge Now.
“We are seeing more and more families coming to see us every month.”
However, McIntyre says she, and her team, have seen a great show of support from the community, with residents “trying to step up as much as we can” and volunteers working hard. “They are tired, but they are still full of good spirit,” she remarks.
McIntyre says many people may think of individuals living on the street as being the only clientele at the food bank, but that is not necessarily the case.
“The faces at the food bank have changed. We are seeing working people, two-income households, homeowners [and] retirees, people who shouldn’t need to come down to see us but the cost of living right now is just out of hand,” she notes.
McIntyre says Interfaith is serving about 2,500 individuals every month, which equates to around 1,000 households – including 950 in August alone.
“That is 100 households more each month than this same time just last year,” she adds.
“It is scary, and summer is usually the time that we get a little bit of a reprieve as there is more temporary work – people are getting summer jobs – but it has just not stopped. It is going up and up and up and of course, as the colder months approach, we are bracing for the tidal wave ahead.”
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
“Give, give, give,” McIntyre says when asked how people can help.
“Give your time, give your money, give your food. We are very grateful that Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and so we do expect there to be a lot of collections are schools and at churches and even in our grocery stores and so, if people are able to buy a few extra things and plop them in the food bank bucket, then we are grateful for that.”
McIntyre adds financial donations help the most. Those looking to donate can do so online, deliver a cheque or visit the food bank in-person at 1103 3 Avenue North.
As for food items, she says they are “always grateful for the Kraft Dinner and the Ichiban”, but what the local food bank is really looking for is “food that has more nutritional value”.
“Especially right now, we’re really short on perishable items, so that is your breads and buns, of course fruits and vegetables, meat and dairy, but when you’re thinking non-perishable food items, we’re looking for things like cereal, pasta and pasta sauce, canned meat, canned fruit, things that have more high fibre and protein [are] always better than the [items] that are heavy in salt and sugar,” McIntyre explains.
THANKS FOR GIVING
On Tuesday, October 1, Vista Radio’s 94.1 CJOC and 98.1 The Ranch will be on location at the Uplands Sobeys (327 Bluefox Blvd. North) collecting donations for the food bank.
McIntyre says she is grateful for all groups hosting events for food banks this fall.
“We need the help and it’s wonderful when the grocery stores get involved because the food is right there,” she notes.
“It makes it really easy for people to come out and do something good for others.”
More information on the Interfaith Food Bank is available at the society website.
