Volunteers at Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank helped organize Christmas hampers for over 6,200 people in 2024, an increase in demand of just over one per cent compared to 2023. (Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank on Facebook)

By Jordan Davidson

Demand still high

Nanaimo food bank reports Christmas demand levelling off following post-pandemic surge

Jan 9, 2025 | 4:23 PM

NANAIMO — Following a few years of dramatic increases, a local food bank reports only a slight increase in demand in their recent Christmas hamper campaign.

Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank provides baskets full of food essentials every December, with the demand growing by leaps and bounds since the COVID-19 pandemic.

Executive director Peter Sinclair said over 6,200 people in Nanaimo and on northern Vancouver Island received a hamper this past holiday season, an increase of just over one per cent from the year before.

“The thing to note though, 2023 was up by 30 per cent and then 2022 was up by 35 per cent, so we’re seeing large numbers but it does appear that it has levelled off after the real growth we’ve seen over the last two years.”

In 2023, more than 6,100 people received a Christmas hamper, compared to over 4,600 individuals receiving hampers in 2022.

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Sinclair said despite the small increase in demand from last year, far too many people still require access to their services.

“We’re regularly seeing new people come in, people who thought they would never need to use the food bank. We make it a welcoming place and make sure people are looked after, and we just want people to know that if you need our service there’s no shame in that. We’re here to help.”

Volunteers around Nanaimo help sign people up for the Loaves and Fishes Christmas hamper program. (Loaves and Fishes on Facebook)

Meantime, progress is being made on their new building after it was announced in Dec. the federal Liberal government included $5 million in funding for their warehouse construction project on East Wellington Rd., a welcomed relief for Sinclair after years of pushing for funding.

However, that still leaves the project $2.2 million short.

Sinclair said given the turmoil currently brewing in Ottawa following the pending departure of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, they’re “not counting our chickens before they hatch.”

“As we understand it, we should be able to see $2.5 million sometime this spring as the money has been allocated for fiscal year 2025/26, and then a further $2.5 million in fiscal year 2026/27. So right now we’re just really looking forward to getting the first instalment of $2.5 million in, sometime this spring.”

Construction on the new facility started in December, with excavators and workers on-site ever since preparing the ground for the new building with an anticipated opening date late this year.

Sinclair said none of their programs like the Christmas hampers would be possible without their team of dedicated volunteers, which are needed year-round.

More information on volunteering with Loaves and Fishes is available here.

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