This time of year finds the bins getting low at St. Bart’s Food Bank in Gibsons and at the Sunshine Coast Food Bank in Sechelt. Here are some current statistics:
In the first quarter of 2015, in Gibsons, there has been an increase of 41 per cent in people looking for assistance, compared to the same period in 2014. In Sechelt, from January to December 2014, there were 12,123 bags of food distributed, an average of 1,011 bags per month. About half of the clients are single, one third are children, and within this demographic there is a growing number of women over 55 years of age. As more baby boomers retire, this number will continue to grow.
The Sunshine Coast Dragon Boat Club is holding two food bank drives in June and would ask the community for their support, in terms of cash/cheque or donations of food.
The top five items needed are: peanut butter, canned soup, pasta sauce, cereal, canned tuna or salmon.
Please find us on June 19 at Gibsons Public Market from 1:30 to 6 p.m. and on June 27 at Sechelt Market from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Thank you for helping us give back to the Sunshine Coast.
