Frequently Asked Questions - You Asked...
Do you have paid staff? Who runs the food bank?
ALL volunteers of the food bank (including operational managers and Board members) work without any remuneration. We work only to serve the community.
Where does the donation money go? How is the donation money used?
A majority of donated money goes towards the purchase of fresh and non-perishable food from local vendors. We have limited warehouse space so we buy food each week, as needed. This drastically cuts warehousing costs, reduces spoilage and gives us an ability to source "sale" items. In addition, there are many other costs associated with the operation of a warehouse facility - rent, hydro, cleaning supplies, insurance, storage bins, etc. All these items require funding to secure and maintain. Donated funds are critical to our operation.
Why are you only open twice a week?
For most of our existence we only had the resources to open once per week. But due to increasing demand for food support, we made a decision in 2018 to open an additional time per week. This doubled the work effort associated with cleaning, sorting, restocking and providing food support to those in need. Although it is concerning that the need for food support is rising, we are proud to be able to adjust our operation to better serve the community. As of spring 2024 we open 2 Sundays each month.
How often can clients visit the Food Bank?
Clients can come to the Food Bank for food twice each month.
How many clients do you see in a day?
Our busiest day was 36 individual clients processed in 2.5 hours. These 36 people represented 88 total individuals supported. Each person coming to the Food Bank receives food and personal health care products for everyone in their household, including children.
How many families do you support each year?
Our most current records indicate that 250 families were supported in the calendar year. This number has steadily risen since we first opened in 1990.
How many volunteers do you have?
We currently have about 45 volunteers who have been helping for many years, and in some cases decades.
What is required to become a volunteer?
Working within a warehouse operation requires training, as well as a commitment to provide effort when most needed. Some jobs require lifting boxes of food too. All volunteers pass a formal background screening, have the ability to work safely in a warehouse environment, be open to taking instruction from our managers, commit to upholding standard operation procedures, and be available for at least 6 months of service during the days and times that are needed.
How do you use gift cards?
Gift cards are not given to clients. Our Managers use the gift cards to purchase food supplies from local merchants. These supplies are needed for our inventory and are distributed to our families.