Changing times to keep up with demand mean improvements in efficiency for the Chemainus Harvest House Food Bank.
A new cooler recently installed by Cory Sivertson and Steve Smith is running and has substantially increased the capacity for storing milk, eggs and other items with a limited shelf life.
The food bank, located in the basement of the Chemainus United Church, has also expanded its space.
“Big thanks to the church for allowing us to take over more space,” said Jason Farrugia, chair of the Harvest House Food Bank Society board.
It is almost 200 more square feet of capacity, added Emily Holmes, the Harvest House Food Bank’s coordinator, which allowed room to install the cooler. A capacity grant from Food Banks Canada made it possible to purchase the walk-in cooler and generous donations from DP World and the local community helped with the expansion.
“It also reduces the number of coolers we had before that were less efficient,” noted Farrugia.
One of the older coolers was donated to the Cowichan Neighbourhood House Association next door and another to the Ladysmith Resource Centre Association that operates the Ladysmith Food Bank.
The new cooler is being complemented by updated shelving.
“It’s a bigger project than just a few shelves,” said Holmes. “We kind of needed to replace some right away.”
The food bank is also experiencing an increase in the numbers requiring assistance, up over 20 per cent in October from last year according to Holmes. A similar rise in demand during November is expected once statistics are finalized at the end of the month and likely to continue into December for the lead-up to Christmas.
“We’re seeing a lot of food go through here,” said Holmes.
“Our numbers are increasing and the cost of food is increasing,” Farrugia added.
A unique emergency food bank program has been developed with the Chemainus library next door.
With the library open until 8 p.m., the later hours are helpful to those who can’t be at the food bank when it’s open.
“They can go there and check out an emergency bag,” Holmes pointed out. “We have some younger clients who don’t always get their hamper requests in time.”
“It’s just increasing the accessibility so there’s more places and longer times,” Farrugia indicated.
Harvest House services Chemainus, Crofton and also Penelakut and Thetis Islands.
The increase in need has also created an increase in the work. The food bank is now open four days a week instead of two and has also recently added an assistant coordinator in Daisy Hiebert.
“We’re always really grateful for non-perishable donations,” said Holmes.
Those donations can be made between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the food bank.
Monetary donations are also always welcome that allow for more bulk purchases of such things as milk, eggs, yogurts and cheese.