Demand for Kelowna food bank rises 30% over last year

The Central Okanagan Food Bank is experiencing unprecedented demand.

“Our numbers keep going up because inflation is not going down,” said Trina Speiser from the food bank.

Demand has surged by 30% compared to last year, with the food bank now serving over 12,000 individuals each month.

“We haven’t noticed a decline at all. We don’t anticipate a decline, but because of community support, we’re hopeful we can continue to meet the need,” Speiser added.

Rising Food Costs

Canada’s 2024 Food Price Report estimates that a typical family of four will spend over $16,000 on groceries this year—a $700 increase from 2023.

“Food prices have not gone down. Food price inflation remains slightly higher than overall inflation,” explained Ross Hickey, an associate professor of economics.

Hickey noted that the issue may be more about income disparities than food prices alone. “It’s an income problem more than it is a price problem. Everybody needs to buy food; the problem, as I see it, isn’t that the price of food is really high, it’s that the price of food went up faster than wages went up,” he said.

Holiday Efforts

With grocery costs becoming unaffordable for many, the food bank is preparing hundreds of holiday hampers for families in need.

“These include special provisions like pancake mix, turkeys, and cereals. We’re really grateful for the community’s support, which allows us to keep meeting the need,” Speiser said.

In addition to the hampers, the food bank is organizing a turkey drive with a goal of collecting 500 turkeys.

“We have a turkey drive coming up on Nov. 30. We’re asking people to drop off a turkey or ham at our Kelowna location between 1 p.m. and 5 p.m.,” Speiser shared.

The food bank remains committed to supporting the community during this challenging time, thanks to ongoing local generosity.