Annual food drive breaks record
Need continues to build for Upper Room Hospitality Ministry clients
A food bank in Charlottetown has smashed records for donations and the number of people using the service in October.
The Y's Service Club held its annual food drive for the Upper Room Food Bank on Oct. 29 raking in over 20,000 pounds of food, to help the food bank’s 2,500 clients, over 900 families. Last year’s drive brought in about 2,500 fewer pounds of food, which served about 609 families.
Mike MacDonald, the executive director of the Upper Room Hospitality Ministry, said he was surprised by the volume of food people were able to donate, knowing how many people are affected by the rising cost of everything from groceries to gas.
“We’re extremely happy with the outcome. We really weren’t expecting this much considering the price,” he said.
“There’s a lot of people out there struggling, and I’m very grateful we’re in a position where we can help.”
Last month was the busiest one the food bank has seen, a trend that workers have been noticing since May. Usually, the busy months don't start until the winter weather sets in.
“Usually in the summer, we would have a busy day, then things would be quite slow, but unfortunately, we never saw those slow days again, they never came," MacDonald said. "It’s just a busy day followed by a busy day followed by a busy day.”
Carlos Cegerra, one of many people living in Charlottetown who rely on the food bank, was in the food bank's waiting area Nov. 4.
“It’s very important with the rising cost of living," Cegerra said about the service the food bank provides. "It’s so important. Without this, we can’t live.”