The rising cost of food is affecting the way the Castlegar Community Harvest Food Bank does business.
“We’ve had to really watch our pennies and we’re we’re cutting down on anything extra,” president Val Field said. “We just try to give out the basics now.”
The organization provides an average of 40 to 45 hampers a week as well as 75 lunches three days per week. Field said they serve students, immigrants, seniors, working people, working families, and people on assistance.
However, she said they’ve changed their menus “so it’s not big meals as much anymore. We make sure there is a lunch, but we’ve had to really tighten our belts.”
Field said she has noticed a difference within the last year. The organization does not pay wages or rent, so all of the money it raises goes directly to support clients. Field said they have always enjoyed strong support from the community and businesses, as well as Food Bank Canada, but in the last year, donations have not been as plentiful.
She said it has meant that they are no longer giving out coffee or sugar.
“We’re just doing soup and pasta, the very basics that people can make a meal out of. So they’re still very generous, healthy hampers, but nothing too extra.”
While more donations come in at Christmas, demand also increases, and the food bank provides hampers that include toys, with help from a fire department toy drive.
They are also expecting the Canadian Pacific holiday train to provide a boost. This year the train will arrive in Castlegar on Dec. 15 at 4 p.m.
Often donations will carry them into the new year, but this year they are hoping donations will merely cover the cost of Christmas.
“So it’s a very different situation this year,” Field said. “That’s why we’re reaching to the community to say ‘Don’t forget about us. We’re here and your neighbors likely need help.'”
The food bank is at 614 Christina Place. Donations can be dropped off on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays between 9 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
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