The demand for relief in Thunder Bay has been exhausting since the May 28 flooding disaster.
But instead of competing for the public’s generosity, local organizations are working together to try to meet the community’s needs, said Regional Food Distribution Association executive director Volker Kromm.
“The message is we’re all in it together,” Kromm said Tuesday morning as the RFDA launched their fifth annual Harvest for Hunger food drive at Wal-Mart.
After a disappointing collection last fall – the drive was down 29 per cent, Kromm was worried about keeping the donations up, especially with the need for flood relief still running high.
But now that most local and regional grocery stores have joined the campaign along with Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute and local elementary schools, Kromm said he thinks they can reach their goal of collecting 13 tons of food.
And while the demand in Thunder Bay has only risen 13 per cent for food bank usage, the RFDA has expanded to include new membership and new programs, increasing the demand by 49 per cent.
With the current rate of donations, Kromm said they’ve been unable to keep up with that demand.
“We depend on the foods that are donated locally and the stores across the region to carry us through October and into November. That way we’re in fairly good shape when we come to Christmas,” he said.
Kromm said the RFDA has been working to get more stores on board for this fall campaign and along with SCVI, several elementary schools have joined the effort.
“It was really uplifting because little kids, they got it,” he said, adding they get the message they need to help feed their friends, neighbours and community.
“I think in the community as a whole, there are lots of little distribution points,” said Kromm. “The community is coming together a little bit everywhere.”
Food donations can be made at most grocery centres in the city until Oct. 16.
