Demand Steady for Sorrento and Area Food Bank

By Barbra Fairclough

Demand on food bank services is evident. Food bank visits in BC have grown 31% since 2019. Food Banks BC has 127 food banks reporting 195,925 total visits. This represents a total change in visits of 57.1% in the period 2019-2023. A full 53% visiting food banks are single people. 72% report living in market rental homes. 

In British Columbia the number of seniors accessing food banks has increased by 20% over the last two years. 30% of all food bank users in BC are children.

250,000 monthly meals provided in BC are through shelters, soup kitchens and school lunch programs.

Demand for food bank services is up and donations are always welcome at the Sorrento Food Bank. Donate food or cash. Your cash donations can be compounded by food bank access to food at wholesale prices. To donate cash, visit the food bank website and use the donate now button. The Sorrento Food Bank is a registered charitable organization.

Boxes for food donations will be in convenient locations in the Shuswap through the holidays. Drop off a food donation at any of these locations. Refer to the food bank website for a list of most needed food items to donate.

The Sorrento Food Bank will make Christmas hampers available to clients this December as they have in previous years. If you know someone who would benefit from one, please contact the Food Bank and register your interest without delay. Some time is needed for volunteers to process the requests, put hampers together and distribute them.

The Sorrento Food Bank is a member of Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada. Sorrento Food Bank hours are Wednesdays 9-3. Outside open hours leave a message and your message will be returned the next open day.

Your returnables are welcomed also. The drop off is outside the food bank entrance, located at 2804 Arnheim Road in downtown Sorrento. www.sorrentofoodbank.ca