The television news report about Santa in July to raise awareness and donations for the Vancouver Food Bank set me to wondering how our local Abbotsford Food Bank was faring. So I asked the Food Bank Coordinator what the situation is.

The number of people accessing the Food Bank have stabilized somewhat. They are however averaging a couple of new people per day and while a few of those are homeless most aren’t.

I am not surprised that most were not homeless. With the cost of housing in Abbotsford and the increases in what it costs to live (especially gas), more and more families are faced with having less, little, or no money to buy food with.

I would be interested in knowing at what point the addition of a couple of new people every day ceases to be “stable” and becomes a worrisome increase.

The Food Bank is already buying pasta and by Thanksgiving, two short months away, it will be slim pickings. The coordinator is planning to put the word out to his sources this week about the need for funds and/or food donations.

I know it is a busy time of year for many, but by remembering those in our community who need the communities help to have food to eat, we can make sure that come Thanksgiving the Food Bank shelves are stocked – giving all something to be thankful for.

With school looming a food drive would be an auspicious and philanthropic manner to start the school year with, don’t you think?

Please take the time to share and help feed the hungry by supporting our Food Bank.