‘People who would donate to us are now coming through our door’; Nicola Valley Food Bank adjusting to rising demand

The Nicola Valley Food Bank has been dealing with increased use and decreased donations over the past several months.

The food bank is seeing four-to-five new faces each and every week, as the shelves become more sparse amid increased demand.

“We see about 220 come through our door from Tuesday to Thursday,” said General Manager Derlanda Hewton.

That figure is just the people picking up the food, sometimes for families of four or five.

“Our donations, unfortunately, have not be able to allow us to purchase as much as we have been able to in the past. We are now making decisions to adjust,” added Hewton.

Those adjustments include suspension of the monthly food hamper program and closing one week per month entirely.

“People who would donate to us are now coming through our door,” said Hewton. “It’s just a sad situation but we know we are not alone and we are accommodating. Our clients have been amazing, trying to adapt to these changes as well.”

The Nicola Valley Food Bank sees all kinds through their door, from young families to older retired couples.

“I’m on disability, he’s on pension,” Cathy Bera told CFJC Today, gesturing to her partner. “When he retired, it was hard. We went through the flood and they helped us. It was awesome.”

Being on a fixed income, with rising costs, the food bank becomes the only option.

“You get paid once a month. That makes it tough. Then with the food bank, do they have the coupons for the farmers market? That was a big help,” added Lee McLeod.

The food bank has also seen the grants it utilizes cut drastically in recent years.

“We are low on everything, so it’s whatever anybody can find it in their hearts to give, we accept graciously and we appreciate it,” said Hewton.