Red Deer Food Bank seeing demand for food hampers doubled during the holidays

Food Bank items in a grocery cart (Photo Submitted)

The Red Deer Food Bank is seeing an increase in demand for food hampers doubled compared to previous years during the holidays for both perishable and non-perishable items.

Mitch Thompson, executive director of the Red Deer Food Bank spoke with CFWE, saying that the food bank has been stretched this year with the demand of food hampers with 94 percent busier then the previous years during the holiday seasons.

Thompson says that 36 percent of families in Canada are struggling to make bill payments and to purchase food, with the added increase of inflation by 5-7 percent.

Thompson goes on to say that the Red Deer Food Bank went from needing one or two items, to having a dire need for many items to meet the demand of the community, along with still providing turkeys and hams to families in need in time for Christmas.

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