By Dan Marshall

Parksville community food bank looking for donations

Jun 27, 2016 | 12:50 PM

Supply is low at the Salvation Army’s community food bank in Parksville.

Foodbank Co-ordinator Trina Jiggins says a 23% increase in people using their services is coming from an unusual source.

“We are getting a significant amount of local families that were making high incomes in Alberta in the last year, now coming in after being laid off,” said Jiggins.  We’re seeing approximately 20-30 families a month, an increase here at the food bank, and our donations are not just not keeping up with the local need.

Jiggins is appealing to the public to help with donations.

“We’re able to supply the basic necessities but we’re lacking in terms of juices and canned meats.  Cash goes an extremely long way.  All of our local grocery stores work hand in hand with us, so when we get a cash donation we’re in turn able to go the grocery stores and they give us approximately ten percent above their cost.”

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Donations can be dropped off at the Foodbank’s French Creek depot Monday to Friday between 9am and 4pm.