The demand for service at the Innisfail and District Food Bank remains high but not as much as first suspected.
“At the end of December we were up 17 per cent, so we have dropped a little bit. Three per cent is three per cent,” said Carole Sim, coordinator of the food bank.
Last week Sim released usage statistics from July 1 to March 31, the first nine months of the agency's 2015-16 fiscal year.
The statistics showed that a total of 698 hampers were served to 1,153 adults and 575 children in the first nine months of the 2015-16 fiscal year, compared to 613 during the previous nine-month period. This represented a 13.87 per cent increase in the number of hampers. As for adults, there was a 15.88 per cent increase over statistics from the 2014-15 fiscal year. There was also a 6.78 per cent increase in the number of children for the first nine months of the current fiscal year compared to the previous period.
“There is an increase, but the seasonal workforce should be going back to work pretty quickly,” said Sim of her assessment on the latest statistics. “We always see an increase from October to November to April.”
In the meantime, Sim said she remains encouraged with the strong support of the community in bringing in donations, particularly over the fall and Christmas periods.
She said this year's critically important food drive season is now beginning, with one last week by the 7 Penhold Air Cadet squadron and another late this month by the Innisfail Lions Club.
Sim is also reminding citizens the growing season is now starting and the food bank will be grateful to accept garden produce.
“And if they have room in their gardens and would like to plant a row for the food bank, that would be great,” said Sim, noting citizens can also make donations at the local Co-op grocery store through the Alberta Shares program, which the agency joined in March, becoming partners with Co-op.
Anyone wanting to make a donation to the food bank or volunteer can call Sim at 403-227-3960.
Carole Sim, food bank coordinator
"At the end of December we were up 17 per cent, so we have dropped a little bit. Three per cent is three per cent."
