The Salvation Army food bank is seeing increased demand in Owen Sound.
Community Family Services Coordinator Alice Wannan says, “Our numbers continue to be high. I believe in October just before the Thanksgiving food drive we ran our stats and we were up 42 per cent from the year previously.”
She explains, “That meant we helped 1,004 people in October with food in our community.”
Wannan adds, “It’s a staggering number for our community of Owen Sound, but people are struggling. People we’ve never seen before. People that are working two jobs and still just not quite making it. So the need is definitely there.”
She says more people are finding it too difficult to afford groceries, noting, “We’ve had people who were able to donate and give to the Salvation Army before who are now finding themselves in a position of just not being able to put enough food on the tables for their families. We’re seeing seniors at higher numbers than we’ve ever seen before. not able to pay the rent and eat well.”
She says, “This community food drive is just such a big event for us and we are so excited to be partnering with CFOS”
The food drive is Friday, December 1st from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will broadcast from Zehrs in Owen Sound. Bayshore Broadcasting’s Mix 106.5, and Country 93 will be at No Frills, Foodland, Metro and Food Basics.
Wannan says you can call 519-376-5699 on December 1st where people will be on hand all day to take donation pledges.
You can donate anytime in person at the Salvation Army at 365 14th Street West or donate online at salvationarmy.ca. You can mark it CFOS, and the donation will be included in the food drive.