As inflation fuels the rising cost of goods and services, Chatham-Kent’s food bank is struggling to keep its shelves full.
Ahead of an annual back-to-school food drive this Saturday, Chatham Outreach for Hunger Executive Director Brenda LeClair said she has seen upwards of 50 per cent more families accessing services at the food bank.
“Our supplies are quickly diminishing, our numbers are quickly increasing, a lot in part due to the cost of groceries now going up so much,” she said, adding that rising utility bills and the lack of affordable housing are also causing added strain for local families.
“On a busy day we could have 70 to 75 families a day coming to our door and on top of that we maybe serve five or six non-sheltered folks,” said LeClair.
To meet the need, the Chatham food bank is looking to the community for donations this weekend during the fill “Fill the Bus” food drive, organized by Helping Hands, the Chatham Goodfellows, and Free Help CK.
School busses will be parked at nine locations across the municipality on Saturday to accept non-perishable food items and school supplies. Donations will be accepted between 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. before being delivered to Chatham Outreach for Hunger and the Free Help CK backpack program.
“Right now our need is really great,” said LeClair. “Going into the school season and going into Thanksgiving, we need to get those products back on our shelves so that we can give families enough of what they need.”
She said every single food item makes a difference for families in Chatham-Kent.
“We all have a responsibility to look after each other and I think Chatham-Kent has proven that we are good at doing that,” she said.
The “Fill the Bus” food drive is being held at the following locations:
- Chatham – Food Basics, Giant Tiger, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Sobeys
- Dresden – Foodland
- Wallaceburg – No Frills
- Tilbury – No Frills and Foodland
