It’s the time of year when food banks everywhere are dealing with high demand amid tough economic times. But the Agape food bank in Cornwall may be forced to close if food donations don’t start coming in.
Shelves usually filled with staples like peanut butter, jam, soup and canned vegetables are empty.
“In the summer it just went down. It's disgusting that's all I can say,” said Alyssa Blais, the executive director of the Agape food bank.
“It was very heartbreaking. We purchase a lot of our food and we just can't afford to purchase anymore.”
Blais said demand at the food bank has jumped from 800 people to 1,000 in a month.
It’s a scary time for those who rely on the food bank.
“These shelves are getting emptier and emptier,” said Matthew Stang.
“It's scary for the kids you know. As an adult I can skip a meal, but no kid should go hungry.”
The food bank has been without items like meat for more than a year and even the powdered kind of milk is running out.
The problem is that many people who used to donate the food now have to use it.
Blais said they are pleading with the community and other people outside of the community to donate if they can, otherwise the food bank may have to close.
That possibility now has parents worried about keeping their children fed.
“I think we have to come together as a community,” said Stang.
“If everyone donates one can it help a lot right? So we got to get the word out.”
With a report from CTV Ottawa’s John Hua
