INNISFAIL – Business is slow at the Innisfail and District Food Bank and that is considered good news as there is less hunger in town.
However, sooner than later the financial help dished out to the less fortunate by governments during the COVID-19 crisis will end. That could mean a sudden surge of demand for service.
“It seems to be the story around and about,” said Carole Sim, the co-ordinator of the local food bank, who is aware of the same situation at the Olds-based Mountain View Food Bank where demand is low throughout the entire county district.
Sim said she is seeing a 25 per cent decrease in demand since early March when the COVID-19 pandemic crisis began. "I think they (clients) got money at the moment and once these payment programs end we could get very busy."
Sim added, however, that donations are up for both cash and food. She added food donations are up about 20 per cent but figures for cash donations won’t be available until later this month. She also said the stock supplies at the agency are healthy in case of a sudden emergency that would see demand skyrocket.
“They are healthy amounts,” said Sim, adding the local food bank also received a donation from the Canada-wide Stronger Together, Tous Ensemble benefit concert last April. “I do know our cash donations are up. People are worried their friends and neighbours won’t have food.
“However, our numbers (clients) are down,” she said. “My belief is that with all these programs that have been out people are awash in money at the moment.”
Sim said that was good news if the less fortunate qualified for the aid programs but if they don’t or have to pay it back that could present them a new challenge in the not so distant future.
“You never like to see people having to come to a food bank,” said Sim. “However, I know we have a good supply of food and cash and we will be able to help them out. You hate to see people have to come to food banks.”
In the meantime, some of the clients who are still utilizing the Innisfail food bank throughout the pandemic are ones who have been known to the agency for a long time.
“They wouldn’t qualify for wage replacement of EI or anything like that,” said Sim. “You are always going to have a certain number of those types of clients. We don’t have many but we do have some.”
For information on the Innisfail food bank, including hours of operation, citizens can contact Sim at 403-227-3960, or co-coordinator Brenda Hand at 403-227-1421.
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