By Heather Killen
Spectator
NovaNewsNo.com
Special fundraisers are being held to help a local food bank keep up with the growing number of families in need.
Several area churches are organizing a lobster supper on April 29 at the Family Living Centre in the Middleton Baptist Church to benefit the Twelve Baskets Food Bank. The Middleton Lions Club is also hosting a food drive at its hall on May 8 in an effort to help stock the food bank’s shelves.
Marg Tracey, manager of Twelve Baskets, said that since last summer need has steadily increased. On average the food bank staff usually saw about 80 families on a regular basis. Late last year this number grew to 100, and to 112 by early 2010.
The food bank served 133 families last month, an unusually high number according to Tracey. She isn’t able to pinpoint one reason for the steady increase and suggests that a number of factors are probably playing a role.
“More and more people have been coming and more and more people continue to come,” she said. “Last month (March) we had our highest number of families to date, 133 families. We distributed more than 11,000 pounds of food.”
When Tracey arrived for her shift on Wednesday night, there were nine cars already waiting for the food bank to open. That number soon doubled. Before the night was over nearly 30 people arrived, many lined up outside in the parking lot due to the cramped corners of the waiting room.
“We can seat about six, or seven,” she said. “We interview people and most of them have good reasons to be there. There are a lot of single parents coming.”
The area served by the food bank spans from Springfield to the Dodge Rd. in Wilmot, to Margaretsville and Port George, through the Leonard Road to Paradise and parts of Clarence. Tracey said while they receive weekly shipments from Feed Nova Scotia as well as private donations, the recent number of new clients makes the future more uncertain.
She’s heard similar stories of increased demand at the Kingston food bank and that some food banks in the province have been forced to close due to bare shelves. While Twelve Baskets is reasonably well stocked, this may not hold up to the current rate of demand.
Sylvestor Atkinson, who is helping to organize the lobster supper, said the churches became aware of the situation earlier this year and agreed to work together to ensure that no one in the area goes hungry.
Dinner will be served in two sittings, one starting at 4:30 p.m. and the second from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m.. The menu includes creamed lobster with vegetables, coleslaw, biscuits and dessert.
Tickets are $20 and available at the door and at the Pharmasave drug store. Cheques should be made to the Twelve Baskets Food Bank and private monetary donations are welcome. Atkinson added that people can also contact him for more information at 825-4758.
