THUNDER BAY - An annual food drive came up short of its goal this year and officials with the Regional Food Distribution Association are hoping an overtime session will bring up their total.
Last weekend, the RFDA held its Harvest for Hunger in partnership with 14 different grocery stores throughout Thunder Bay and Kakabeka Falls.
Brendan Carlin, community services manager with the RFDA, said that overall the food drive went well, but it came up short of its intended goal.
“We were hoping for 10 tonnes,” he said. “We didn’t quite get there, but we did have some enthusiasm in the community. Overall it was 7.5 tonnes that we didn’t have on Thursday that we do have now.”
According to Carlin, the Harvest for Hunger drive is meant to replenish the RFDA’s most needed items.
“There is lots of food here, but it’s not all the things we need the most or the things our food banks use the most,” Carlin said. “So we were searching for items like pasta, peanut butter, canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, things like that that people can make a meal with and fill them up properly.”
This time of year also creates an increased need on area foodbanks and the RFDA because of kids going back to school and several holidays just around the corner.
“Kids need lunches,” Carlin said. “There’s a real stigma attached to kids not having lunches at school. As well, we have thanksgiving coming up and in a couple of months there’s Christmas. All families have extra stresses and extra pressures monetarily and otherwise at this time of year. For us, it’s a really great opportunity to replenish our shelves so we are stocked up, not just for that, but beyond as well.”
With the shortfall during the Harvest for Hunger, it might mean the RFDA enters the new year with a deficit in food stocks.
In Thunder Bay, more than 9,000 people a month utilize foodbanks, and more than 14,000 throughout the rest of the region.
Carlin said he is not sure why donations were down this year. Last year the campaign reached its goal of 10 tonnes, while past years have seen lower than expected numbers.
“Food prices are always rising as well, especially on most of these items,” he said. “It’s hard to say.”
Donations are still being accepted for the Harvest for Hunger drive. For more information on how to donate, visit www.foodbanksnorthwest.ca.
