The Okotoks Food Bank has been there for families feeling the economic pinch of recession this year to help them put food on their table.
Sheila Hughes, food bank executive director, said the downturn in the economy and rising grocery prices have forced more families to turn to the food bank to put food on the table. It has resulted in a 32 per cent increase this year in the number of families and individuals coming to it for help.
“The fact that the price of groceries has increased so much and [food] is a flexible item in people’s budgets, so that’s one area where people tend to find that they can make cuts,” she said.
The Okotoks Food Bank is one of five charities supported by the Okotoks Western Wheel’s Wheel Cares Christmas campaign this year.
It’s the fourth year the food bank has been supported by the Wheel Cares program.
This year the food bank intends to put donations into its emergency hamper program and to help with costs for its adopt a family Christmas hamper program.
The food bank provides food hampers to families in need. The contents of the hampers are based on the size of the families.
“Depending on the number of people in the family, there’s a certain amount of cans of food and products and fresh food, meat and frozen items as well,” said Hughes.
Families are also able to say whether they need additional personal or household items.
Hughes said the holiday season is the busiest time of year at the food bank when families can also receive special hampers with all the trimmings for Christmas dinner, including a turkey, potatoes, vegetables, a pie, bread, stuffing gravy, even hot chocolate and Christmas cookies.
They also get eggs and pancake mix for breakfast and mustard so families can make sandwiches with the turkey leftovers.
“It’s a nice Christmas meal, there’s even Christmas napkins… It’s little touches to make it a really nice day,” said Hughes.
It takes a generous community to keep the food bank’s shelves stocked so it can do its work in the community and Hughes is thankful for the support.
She said they are low on a number of staple food items, including rice, dry pasta, canned soup and canned meals and pastas, as well as items for school lunches.
The Food bank doesn’t just help people put food on the table. It provides a number of other essential household items.
Hughes said they also need personal items like razors, shampoo, toothbrushes and toothpaste.
“Personal care items are something we don’t buy, we try to put most of our money towards food,” she said.
Hughes also said cleaning and laundry supplies and paper products, such as toilet paper, Kleenex and paper towels, are always needed.
Hughes said they also need baby diapers in sizes four to six and baby wipes are also needed.
Families in need of an emergency food hamper or a Christmas hamper can register by calling 403-651-6629.
Anyone looking to make a donation to the food bank or to sponsor a family can also call the food bank at the same number. People can also donate online at www.okotoksfoodbank.ca.
Donations of perishable food can also be dropped off at Sobeys, Safeway & Okotoks Natural Foods Market stores in town.
