New Welcoming Food Bank Space in Fort Erie

Salvation Army Food Bank clients in Fort Erie are reaping the rewards of an expanded space offering more fresh and healthy food choices. In April, The Salvation Army Community and Family Services Food Bank moved from a small dark area in the basement to an improved location upstairs.

“The new space in the sanctuary is bright, cheery and open, with store shelving so it looks like you’re walking into a grocery store,” says Anne Watters, Community and Family Services Manager in Fort Erie.

“There is a selection of items side by side, so clients have a choice. The fridges and freezers have glass fronts, so everything is on display. We have milk, cheese, eggs and margarine, which are items that we don’t normally have.”

Normally a family of four would receive 1 litre of milk per month, but now, with the new funds, that same family gets 2 to 3 litres each month. A family of more than four people receives 4 litres of milk each month.

“They are so excited when they see fresh food in the fridges. It’s an important thing for clients to receive. God provides, and if we need it, it will be here,” Anne says.

The Salvation Army Fort Erie Food Bank has many beneficial community partnerships, including with Walmart, Sobeys, KFC, Little Caesars, A&W and Starbucks, which all donate leftover food. A recent food drive organized by the Fort Erie Rotary Club brought in 840 pounds of food worth $3000, as well as $300 in cash for The Salvation Army.

Demand at the food bank continues to increase in Fort Erie, which supported 184 households and 415 people in March 2023 and in May, 167 households and 342 people were assisted. Last Christmas, 823 people received food support, a 300 person increase over normal demand.

“We’re normally assisting under 300 people a month so to see numbers consistently over 300 is an indication of how many people are struggling in this community,” Anne says.

Non-perishables can be donated at Sobeys in Fort Erie, or perishable food can be dropped off Monday to Friday from 10-3 at Community and Family Services in Fort Erie, located at 255 Gilmore Road.