Officials: Local food bank shelves looking bare

by Kris Svela and Chris Daponte

WELLINGTON CTY.

At a time when many locals are planning or taking a vacation, others are struggling just to put food on the table.

The less fortunate seem to be increasing in numbers, as food banks across Wellington County are reporting bare shelves.

“That’s certainly the case in Mapleton,” said Drayton Food Bank coordinator Mark Grasman.

He noted the shelves are usually bare during the summer months due to residents taking holidays, but this summer seems to be worse than others.

“We’re lower than normal,” Grasman said. “We’re surviving, but hopefully the food will start coming in soon.”

In Fergus, manager Fred Aleksandrowicz said the Centre Wellington Food Bank is looking for donations of canned tuna, juice, cereal, peanut butter and granola bars for children and toiletries.

East Wellington Community Services, which operated food banks in Rockwood and Erin, has also issued a call for increased donations.

“The shelves of the food bank are very low but the use of this service is still required by many in our community,” Erika Westcott, manager of client and volunteer services with EWCS, said in a press release.

In east Wellington, food banks are running low on many items, including soups, coffee, tea, shampoo and conditioner, soap and body wash, canned chili, canned fruit and vegetables, Kraft Dinner, and instant and canned noodle or rice dishes.

The story is similar in other parts of the county.

“We’re low,” said Marilyn Theurer secretary of the food bank in Arthur, which serves about 120 people each month.

Like Drayton, the Arthur facility is using donated money to top up its food supply.

In Arthur the food bank is looking for canned vegetables and fruits, juices, fruit cups, pasta sauces, cake mixes and icing.

“As we’re getting down to the time when kids are going back to school we need juices boxes and pudding,” said Theurer.

Marg Rapp, who coordinates the food bank in Mount Forest, said there is a shortage of food there as well.

“Our shelves are a little bit low,” she said.

That food bank has also had to dip into its financial account to purchase additional food for its 100 clients.

“The (food) donations have not been coming in as they have in the past,” said Rapp.

What is needed most, she said, is peanut butter, soups and fresh or canned vegetables.

Bev May, who operates the Harriston Food Bank, said she is managing to assist the 14 clients in her community, but food donations are always needed. In Minto, food banks operate in Harriston, Palmerston and Clifford.

Grasman explained the food shortage is worrisome during the summer - but even more so as September approaches  and demand goes way up once school starts.

Demand increases further still as colder weather sets in and a larger portion of household incomes is eaten up by utility costs. Yet the demand later in the year is often offset by a “rush” in donations around Thanksgiving and again around Christmas, when people feel more generous, Grasman told the Advertiser.

He said the food bank, which is run out of the Drayton Reformed Church, is luckier than some, as it does have a bit of cash to help purchase a few more groceries - but there is still a need for more donations from the community.

“We’re working with our community partners to try and get our stock up,” Grasman said.

For anyone looking to donate food items, the food bank is looking particularly for school snacks, peanut butter, canned fruit and vegetables, spaghetti, soup, rice and pasta.

August 17, 2012