Debbie Marson is not surprised about the recent statistics revealed about Food Bank usage up in Ontario.
A report released earlier this week indicates the number of people who used Ontario food banks went up 38 per cent last year, which it says is the largest single-year increase recorded by the province's food bank network.
See related: Number of people using Food Banks increased by 38 per cent in Ontario
Marson, the executive director at the North Bay Food Bank, is not shocked.
"We are seeing an increase that is for sure," admitted Marson.
"We were at 171 new households registered all of last year. We are at 299 at the end of October so there is a significant jump.
"The Feed Ontario Hunger Report that just came out specified a 38 per cent increase. We are seeing that. Every day we see people struggling. People who you would not think coming to a Food Bank because they have jobs, have to come and see us."
Marson says they do not stop.
"We are busy all the time," admitted Marson.
"We are a monthly hamper service to our housed individuals in North Bay and Redbridge so for us, it is every month all month, that is what we are doing. It is not that we are getting busier putting hampers out specific to Christmas or holiday season, it is every month."
However, Marson says she sees the support coming in from the community which means a lot.
"The other side of the good busy is all these food drives and fundraisers that are happening and people are so giving this time of year to be able to put themselves out there to canvas their communities to come up with initiatives to have food drives and fundraisers to help support us," she said.
"It is coming in all now but will help sustain us into the new year and beyond if we can make things stretch."
Marson reminds the public when gathering goods, that the North Bay Food Bank cannot take expired food.
"Cash and gift cards are always our number one ask," she said.
"It lets us buy the perishables that we do purchase week to week or it lets us top up things that have not been donated that we would like to hand out."
To donate to the North Bay Food Bank you can click HERE.
