Local food banks are seeing a record number of patrons seeking help in putting food on the table.
Trenton’s Care and Share Food Bank is reporting a nearly 40% increase in visits, with thousands of local residents turning to them for help to stay fed.
Jen Koorneef, a manager at Share and Care Food Bank, said that one in 19 people in Quinte West used a food bank in 2023.
“We could not have predicted the rise in demand that we have experienced here at the food bank. It’s a completely different operation than it was five years ago,” said Koorneef. “We are just trying to find creative solutions to meet the rising demand. We’re trying to advocate for changes to policies that make it more and more difficult for people to meet their basic needs in our community.”
Some of the root causes they’ve identified are an increase of rent costs for housing and rising grocery costs, resulting in people choosing whether to pay their rent, or pay for food.
In response to the rising demand, Care and Share Foodbank is working on shifting from a hamper model where everyone gets a pre-made basket of items, to a shopping model, where people have some selection in what individual items they receive. This change is expected to reduce waste and costs, as people receive support more tailored to their needs.
For those looking to help, Koorneef encourages people to host food drives to collect food, donate funds they can use for food, or even volunteer directly at the food bank.
