Hunger Knows No Season

Shelves are running low at local food banks in the Maritimes. Summer is when the food bank sees the least amount of donations, although the need remains strong. Families are sometimes forced to make the difficult decision of whether to buy food, or other necessities but together we can ensure that no one goes hungry.

Nicole MacLean, Community Ministries Coordinator for Sydney Family Services says, “Normally the highest need for food is in January, but this year is an exception as May has been our busiest month.”

In Moncton, there’s an emergency food program that serves over 400 households annually. In 2014, Moncton’s Breakfast program also served over 6,300 meals throughout the year. 

Together these numbers are staggering, and demonstrate the high need for assistance in the New Brunswick area.  Natasha Burkett, Director of Community & Family Services says, “Donations are always welcome and needed, especially as numbers continue to grow.”

Food is a basic human need and yet, in this country 1-in-8 families suffer from food insecurity, leading to over 850,000 Canadians relying on food banks every year.

Prince Edward Island is no exception either, in Summerside, the soup kitchen feeds over 1,000 people each month. “There’s a great relationship between the local community and the food bank,” says Major Priscilla Drover. “A farmer once called to make a donation  in the summer.

I was pleasantly surprised that it was 1,500 pounds of cucumbers. We were able to use them in our soup kitchen and make relish to give to clients in their food hampers.”

There are many Salvation Army food banks located around the Maritime region. If you’d like to help out by making a donation, or volunteering please contact your local office today, or visit: https://salvationarmy.ca/volunteer/