Montreal-area food banks are facing a shortage this summer, and are looking for help, so they can help others.
Donations are down in some of the city’s largest food banks, including Share the Warmth and Moisson Montreal.
Fewer people think about making donations in the city, said Share the Warmth Executive Director Fiona Crossling.
“It’s in the summer that none of us think about the fact that people are still hungry in the summer,” she said, adding that it’s added stress for the food bank. “The main concern is that we have no food left on the shelves or we don't have enough food.”
When the shelves are bare, food banks are forced to purchase food, which can be expensive on a small budget.
“(Donations) really help when you have to choose between food or paying a bill,” said Crossley.
Share the Warmth is in need of simple items that go a long way, such as canned fish, canned tomatoes, rice and Kraft dinner.
Moisson Montreal, which distributes food to about 200 partners in the city, said there’s also a slowdown in fresh fruit and vegetables, mainly because international imports are slowed as supermarkets rely on local producers.
“(That’s) because there are no surplus from the importers and still no production from the local producers who are always generous when they do get their crops. We're kind of a in a waiting period right now,” said Moisson Montreal’s Sandra O’Connor.
Donor Terri Allister pitches in by offering fresh lettuce from her garden.
“Today its my turn to share, tomorrow somebody shares with me,” she said.
Gestures like hers go a long way for people like Ellie, a client who says she feels the real impacts of the shortage in particular during the summer months, because her children are at home and don't benefit from meal programs at school.
“Because the kids are there are all the time, they eat more, and there's more of a need during the summer,” she said.
To donate to Share the Warmth, click here or call (514) 933-5599
To donate to Moisson Montreal, click here or call (514) 344-4494
