Feed Nova Scotia is asking the public for help in stocking its warehouses, which it says are “critically low.”
The organization says it typically sees a decrease in food donations during the summer months, but that the impact is being felt earlier and more dramatically this year because it received fewer donations this past winter.
Feed Nova Scotia says it has also seen an increase in the numbers of Nova Scotians using its network of 147 food banks and meal programs.
“We’re already hearing from our member food banks who’ve been faced with the tough task of turning people away,” said executive director Nick Jennery in a statement released Tuesday.
“The need is always significant, and we don’t make a habit of sounding the alarm bells. But we’ve hit a critical low, and as scary as that is for us, it’s even more frightening for families trying to feed their children.”
The organization is urging corporate donors and community members to donate food and organize food drives. It says that if one of every three Nova Scotians donated 1 kilogram of food this week, it would meet the need until September.
“It is a desperate situation,” says Karen Theriault of Feed Nova Scotia. “We usually would have about a three to four-week supply of food on hand in our warehouse, and right now in some categories we're completely depleted and in others maybe two to three days’ supply.”
The situation so bad, people have been turned away.
“I would suspect that because food prices are up, people may be finding it a little hard to donate that extra bit,” said Theriault.
“It truly is awful,” said Kelly Currie of the Dartmouth Salvation Army. “I've had women call and they say, 'I've called two food banks and they have no room left for us.’”
Feed Nova Scotia says it needs 300,000 kilograms of food to meet demand over the next couple of months.
The organization is suggesting donations of pasta, pasta sauce, canned soup and stew, as well as canned meat and fish and hot and cold cereals. The organization is also looking for donations of fresh produce.
“Think about the key food items you buy when you’re at the grocery store,” says Jennery. “We really need food that will provide complete, nutritious meals for families.”
“It's nice to have a little treat once in a while, but without that main meal, we're lost,” said Theriault.
Non-perishable donations can be dropped off at bins in most grocery stores in the Halifax area, while both perishable and non-perishable donations can be brought directly to Feed Nova Scotia’s office on the Bedford Highway.
Anyone wishing to make a large donation can call 902-457-1900 to arrange a pick up.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kayla Hounsell.
