Rising grocery prices caused by the loonie's fall may send more people to the food bank for staples to get them through the month, predict officials with Share Family and Community Services.
As the local social service agency takes stock of supplies collected at Christmas — much of it from Tri-City public schools — there are concerns that it may not last through to the summer if the need grows.
Food bank use spiked at Christmas — about 500 families a week — and has since dropped to about 375 families. But newcomers, including Syrian refugee families moving into the area, and cash-strapped families coping with high food costs could cause that number to grow.
The food bank is also seeing people from a variety of cultures and is trying to meet their needs with an exchange table that allows them to substitute a canned meat product, for example, for vegetables, rice or oil.
For now, however, Share is reaping the harvest of a successful holiday food drive that saw School District 43 students and staff collect 30,000 lb. of food (a pound for each student), raise $4,500 in cash and support dozens of families through the Caring Neighbour program.
"We are really grateful, it's huge what the schools have done," said Jake Moir, Share's fund development officer.
Kudos are also going out to the firefighters with the Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, Port Moody and Sasamat fire departments who hauled all the food to the warehouse over a two-day period in December.
"For them to take on that heavy living, it's incredible," said Mike Trelenberg, assistant food bank manger.
The warehouse is now full with staples for needy families but there are concerns that it won't last without continued top-ups from the community.
"It's the food that will carry us in to the summer months. I would predict around May we will have to lean back [reduce some items]," Trelenberg said.
But for now, Roger Leroux, the food bank manager, is pleased with the generosity of the community, the firefighters and school children who gave money, food and time to ensure that local families have enough to eat.
SCHOOLS HELP OUT
The following is a list of some SD43 good deeds over the recent holiday period:
• Leadership students at Gleneagle secondary, with the help of their teacher, Adam Hayes, collected more than 200 toys for Project Angel for families registered with Share.
• Irvine elementary student Kyra Gregory-Cole distributed gloves, hats, scarves, socks, toiletries and other goodies to Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
• Aspenwood elementary school's Cares Club made 900 Christmas crackers for local seniors’ homes, shelters and food banks, as well as for families from a local apartment complex who lost their homes to a fire.
• Citadel middle school helped raise $600 to assist the seven families at Sir Frederick Banting middle who lost their homes in a fire last October.
• Terry Fox secondary's leadership team served warm food and clothing to Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
• Kilmer elementary students decorated and filled almost 1,000 Christmas candy bags for local seniors’ centres.
• Hillcrest middle raised more than $800 at two bake sales and its first Christmas Market. Students also made 52 packages of essential items for the Tri-Cities Bridge Shelter program, which serves local homeless people.
• Glenayre elementary raised close to $1,200 for the Woman’s Transition House at its annual craft fair.
• Heritage Woods secondary held its 11th annual holiday tea for local seniors, serving more than 200 attendees.
• Moody middle school raised money for the Wildlife Rescue Association with its Moody Market.
