The Guelph Food Bank is desperately seeking donations this holiday season amid an ‘alarming’ increase in need.
There is typically an increase in need over the holidays since it tends to be an expensive time of year for people, said Guelph Food Bank administrator Pauline Cripps.
For example, they might have additional costs like car maintenance and snow tires to keep them on the road.
“But just in general, it seems like overall expenses during the holiday season become higher than normal. And for people already living on or below the poverty line, it becomes even more make or break,” she said.
Since January 2023, Cripps said the food bank has already seen a 21 per cent increase in the number of individuals being served – a number that has more than doubled in the last two years.
From January to October, an average of 2,797 individuals and 1,172 households were served each month.
“It's quite alarming to us that we're sitting at the end of November right now, we've already seen a 21 per cent increase within the year,” Cripps said.
Usage hit a record high in October with 3,107 individuals served throughout the month – a need that will only grow as the cost of living continues to rise, she said.
“It’s ridiculous to me how rapidly usage and need is growing in comparison to previous years, because it is climbing at exponential rates that none of us have seen before. None of us were prepared for that,” she said.
Cripps said the food bank’s shelves are “very empty” right now as need is high and donations are down given the high and growing cost of living.
“We desperately need the food to keep our shelves full… in what is sure to be an even busier month.”
Some of the most needed items right now are canned meat, canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned pasta sauce, canned soup, pasta, breakfast cereals, and larger baby diapers.
There are a few different options for making donations.
From Nov. 30 to Dec. 24, in addition to donation bins that are there year-round, shoppers at all Zehrs and No Frills locations in Guelph can make a monetary donation that goes directly to the food bank.
There are also collection bins at all local grocery stores and fire halls, and donations can be made directly to the 100 Crimea St. location or online.
The Guelph Food Bank will be at the Santa Claus Parade on Saturday collecting donations as well.