Central Okanagan Food Bank sees record increase in demand – Okanagan | 24CA News
At the Central Okanagan Food Bank, the variety of individuals coming in for assistance is rising.
The months of December and January had been report months for the group.
“It’s the highest numbers we’ve ever seen right across the board,” mentioned Trevor Moss, Central Okanagan Food Bank chief government director.
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Among the rising demographic needing assist are seniors.
“Because they’re on a fixed income,” Moss mentioned. “We just really feel for them. It’s challenging.”
According to Moss, because the starting of December, the Central Okanagan Food Bank — which has places in Kelowna and West Kelowna — has seen a seven per cent improve within the variety of seniors accessing meals.
Moss mentioned that’s about 350 new seniors in simply the final two months.
He attributed the rising quantity to inflation.
“It’s clearly stated when they actually come into the food bank, and especially first-time users, they indicate why they’re coming in. And the main reason is inflation,” Moss mentioned.
At the Senior Centre at Parkinson Rec Centre, the rising prices of residing are a giant subject amongst shoppers.
“You hear this all the time. Whenever you sit down and visit with people, the price of food comes up all the time,” mentioned John Bohn, president of the Parkinson Senior Society.
“So yeah, it’s a problem for the low-income seniors that are here.”
At an train class held on the senior centre on Thursday, many seniors participating informed Global News they had been getting by amid inflation.
They have sufficient disposable earnings for extras, akin to health courses, however they famous inflation has lots of them watching what they spend.
“A bottle of oil used to be 8.99. It’s (now) 13.99. I thought ‘I’m not doing that.’ I’m sick of it,” mentioned senior Trudy Donohoe.
At the Capri Centre Mall in Kelowna, seniors who spoke to Global News mentioned they had been slicing again on bills and/or altering their purchasing habits.
“You have to watch your budget better now,” mentioned Danusia Steel. “I try and buy more things on sale.”
“It’s pretty hard when you’re a senior and on a set income,” mentioned senior Margie Phillips. “Every time I go shopping, it goes up and up and up.”
Moss expects the pattern of extra seniors visiting the meals financial institution to proceed for an additional few months earlier than issues presumably stabilize.
“The sad thing is most of us, when we think about retirement, it’s supposed to get easier,” mentioned Moss.
“What we’re hearing is that it’s getting more difficult.”
© 2023 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
