(Angie Rolheiser/Melfort Food Bank)

By Angie Rolheiser

Food Bank

Melfort Food bank planning to set-up satellite banks as food demand increases

Oct 8, 2021 | 5:26 PM

The Melfort Food Bank is beginning to see an increase in demand as cooler weather approaches.

Secretary and volunteer Ellen Zuck told northeastNOW new families and more individuals are utilizing food hampers each week.

“I think the rising cost of groceries and buying food now, we are going to get busier because people just need a hand to stretch that paycheque to the end of the month,” Zuck said.

Monetary donations have dwindled but food donations are still coming in regularly.

“We had a lot of garden produce this year of carrots and tomatoes, not many potatoes yet and we’ve had beets coming in,” Zuck said. “That’s all been really good, we get a lot of zucchinis too and so now we are telling our clients how they can use some of this stuff.”

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Through fundraising and grants, the food bank has the ability to purchase a truck to transport food to surrounding communities.

“We want to set up satellite food banks and we will take the food hampers directly to them and then we are going to use it for food recovery,” Zuck said.

Additional food donations have come in through food recovery, gardeners, and loyal food donors.

“We do need volunteers now because we are going to extend our hours a bit so we will need Tuesday’s, Wednesday’s and possibly will stretch into Thursday’s,” Zuck said.

Applications are also being accepted for board members, anyone interested can call the food bank for information.

As the food bank expands its reach in the northeast, Zuck said the board is hopeful that more people will step up to help with their efforts.

“It is important to get food to other communities and as our world keeps changing there is going to be more people that will be needing food,” Zuck said. “When you go to the grocery store, your $20 doesn’t go very far anymore so if we can help with that, that is what our goal is.”

The plan is to begin with communities that are within a half an hour to an hour away. The board may also be looking to add a staff member to help as well.

Items needed at the food bank on a consistent basis is canned fruits, canned tomatoes, pasta sauce, hamburger helper, and sidekicks. Donations can be made on Wednesday’s from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Food hampers are distributed every second Thursday of the month from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

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angie.rolheiser@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @Angie_Rolheiser