Demand for the services of food banks across Chatham-Kent ahead of the holidays is up again this year.
Officials at Outreach for Hunger told CK News Today that demand for food at their site has risen 40 per cent so far this year, Goodfellows said they've seen a 20 per cent increase this year, and FreeHelpCK is experiencing a 25 per cent jump.
Some reported having to wait a week to get an appointment at a food bank in Wallaceburg.
All of the food banks contacted by CK News Today noted the rise in demand is due to high food prices.
Outreach for Hunger Executive Director Brenda LeClair said there's already a lineup by the time they open at 11 a.m.
"People just keep walking in the doors and new families who thought they'd never need a food bank, families who maybe used it a few years ago once or twice and were able to make it and now they're back again because the situation just has gotten worse for them again," said LeClair.
LeClair said nobody in need has ever gone home empty handed and encourages people to keep donating what they can.
"There have been periods in the last couple of months where we maybe haven't given out as much as we would have given out because we just haven't had it here, but with the food drives coming in now, we're able to give a healthier hamper," LeClair added.
FreeHelpCK Executive Director Geri Hughson said people are calling daily to find out when their free food pantries will be filled, adding that her big concern is seniors who can't get out or have never used food services.
"The people that we deal with aren't people that aren't working, that's the hard part. So, the people we deal with are people that wouldn't go to Outreach, they're actually somebody that's reaching out because they just got off work and they need something just to get through until payday or for supper or for their kids at school and seniors," Hughson said.
Outreach for Hunger operates on a first come, first seen basis, while the Salvation Army is by appointment only. Outreach for Hunger will be collecting donations on Saturday when the CP Holiday Train comes to Chatham.
Glasshouse Nursery will be doing a fundraiser on Saturday as well to help them.
Goodfellows noted 1,000 people have already come through their food bank, citing that last year they served 1,600.
FreeHelpCK noted 450 people used their services last year and 425 have already used it this year with another month to go for the pantries.
