Regina Food Bank continues to see increase in usage

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic introduced a gradual rise in meals financial institution utilization throughout Canada.

Now record-setting inflation is protecting meals banks busy.

CEO of the Regina Meals Financial institution John Bailey, mentioned the identical could be mentioned within the Queen Metropolis.

“We’re up about 10 per cent since January,” Bailey mentioned. “That has so much to do with a number of the ongoing financial pressures with the pandemic but additionally that ties in with a number of the inflationary prices we’re seeing too. It’s simply extra individuals needing our assist,” he mentioned.

Bailey mentioned inflation has induced many individuals one the sting to go over to a degree the place they want the meals banks’ assist.

“Our hope is that it’s brief time period, but it surely [usage] continues to be on the rise for a number of months now the place this inflationary stress has been inflicting a rise in demand,” Bailey mentioned.

Bailey mentioned through the pandemic the meals financial institution noticed about 290-300 hampers per day, which is within the neighborhood of round 1,000 individuals per day.

Lately they've been round 320 hampers a day, which Bailey mentioned provides one other 60-70 households.

“As we go alongside we’re taking a look at seeing how far more we have to broaden our each day service as a result of the wait time for hampers is constant to creep up on us, so we hold including extra capability by way of what we’re getting out the door.”

At present, Bailey mentioned financial donations are probably the most useful as a result of it permits them to purchase immediately from producers and wholesalers and get the meals they want most to households as they want it.

Donations could be made at ReginaFoodBank.ca.

“The opposite factor is as we type of come out of COVID-19 and restrictions we’re all the time on the lookout for volunteers. So if you wish to go to our web site and signal as much as volunteer the donation of time can be all the time appreciated,” Bailey mentioned.