The Salvation Army Food Bank hopes local gardeners can help as it struggles with a combination of its usual slow summer donation season, and ever increasing demand.
Despite help from a successful Canada Post food drive this week, food bank manager Trina Jiggins said they are near all-time lows of basic non-perishable items, but also reminded people they can take freshly grown produce.
"Meat, eggs and dairy has to be from an established farm who in turn can get a goods-in-kind charitable tax receipt," she said.
But they can accept any fruit or vegetables, of sufficient quality, from home growers who would like to donate. She points out that "The Food Donation Act releases any member of the public from liability."
She said they served 437 families in May and the number is growing steadily by 20-30 families a month, with a notable increase in people coming from — or who work in — Alberta.
"People often forget about the food bank in the summer because they relate it to the big Christmas push," she said.
To donate call 250-248-8794 or stop at the food bank at 886 Wembley Road in French Creek. The food bank is open Tuesdays and Thursdays 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. by appointment at 250-248-8793.