As Canada’s emergency reaction delivery budget comes to an end, more and more New Brunswickers are suffering to make the end of the month amid the coronavirus pandemic, and New Brunswick’s food banks are in higher demand.
Fredericton Food Bank says there has been an increase in the number of users since the start of the pandemic.
“For more than seven months, we’ve noticed that other people who have never been to a food bank in their entire lives have paid employment,” chief executive Alex Boyd said.
Linda Wood, a food bank volunteer, said new users are a combination of isolated students, seniors and others who don’t have enough.
To meet growing demand, the Fredericton Food Bank has replaced its operational plan with a fast, contactless transportation service. The food bank also increased the amount of food delivered to the family.
“We double the milk, we double the eggs, we increase the products,” Boyd said.
The food bank is preparing to see a significant increase in its use as CERB ends and the COVID-19 wave begins.
Those eligible for CERB earned $2,000 for a four-week era and can reapply for 28 weeks from April.
Wood says he fears it will have an effect on the COVID-19 wave without the advantage.
From now on, he says there are no long queues at The Fredericton Food Bank to collect, but that demand for home food deliveries has increased dramatically.
Before the pandemic, deliveries were made two or three times a month, Boyd said.
“We now deliver 4 to five days a week, 25 times the number of deliveries we make, just because there are more people who, due to fitness issues, are nervous about being in public,” Boyd said.
The Fredericton Community Foundation has been available to help and donate to the food bank, as well as to local nonprofits.
“We have $152,000 to donate to network paintings this fall. Everyone who paints on the front line with COVID-19, running with vulnerable populations that have been affected by the pandemic,” said Kate Rogers, executive director of the Fredericton community. Foundation.
Demand is soaring and the food bank has run out of volunteers, said Boyd, who asked for the public’s help.
“Even if I could only volunteer 3 hours a week and come and do a shift, it would be very helpful,” he said.