THUNDER BAY — The Thunder Bay Food Bank on Miles Street is temporarily halting the distribution of food to clients because of a shortage of volunteers.
Board secretary Myra Bjorn announced the decision Monday afternoon, saying the situation is a direct result of concerns about the COVID-19 virus.
"We're shut down because of the virus, and because most of our volunteers are elderly, or are looking after older family members," Bjorn told Tbnewswatch.
Most volunteers are reluctant to work, she said, out of fear of catching the virus and transmitting it to others.
Bjorn said she hopes the operation's 130 regular clients can access other food banks until the facility is able to reopen.
"It hurts to shut down. Some of us were trying to find ways to stay open, but we just don't have the volunteers to package food and hand it out."
Bjorn said perishable items will be donated to either the Salvation Army or the Dew Drop Inn.
The Thunder Bay Food Bank was started up over 30 years ago.
RFDA tries to build up stocks due to expected demand
The Thunder Bay Regional Food Distribution warehouse on Syndicate Avenue anticipates a growing demand on local food banks with schools closed for at least three weeks, and some area workers being laid off.
Executive-director Volker Kromm said a Calgary food bank has sent the RFDA a truckload of 45 pallets of food.
"As we speak," Kromm told a reporter on Monday afternoon, "we're unloading a truck from the Toronto area," explaining that the RFDA is trying to stock up its warehouse in the expectation that needs will increase.
"The people that can't afford to hoard are the ones that we generally work with, and they're going to be in really desperate straits," he said.
Local agencies are meeting to discuss a strategy including producing more pre-made meals such as soup and bagged lunches.
"And I suspect," Kromm said, "we're going to be expanding services. We may have to find other ways of distributing food in a safe, reliable manner if there are more shutdowns."
