GUYSBOROUGH — Proof that the cost of living doesn’t take holidays, demand for food assistance in the Guysborough area is growing, with dozens of residents seeking help each week as sky-high grocery prices continue to squeeze household budgets heading into Christmas.
That’s according to Elaine Williams, volunteer manager of the Guysborough and Area Food Bank, who spoke with The Journal on Nov. 27, the last regular operating day before the organization pauses service to prepare its annual Christmas hampers.
“We stayed pretty consistent,” she said. “We had 29 clients today. We had 39 last week. There’s lots of people still coming. Some new clients checked in today. Nothing’s dropping off, that’s for sure.”
Williams, who has been with the food bank since June, said about 12 new clients have registered during that time. While some are long-time users, others are households who previously managed without outside help.
Asked what’s driving the sustained demand, Williams didn’t hesitate.
“The price of food is ridiculous,” she said. “Five dollars for two litres of milk. If you have three kids, how do you give them [that]? It’s just not feasible for a lot of people working minimum-wage jobs. They can’t make ends meet.”
With regular food bank service paused until Thursday, Jan. 8, Williams and her team of volunteers – including retiring food bank manager Myles Connolly, David Worth, Maurice Landry, Jim Muise, John Nagel, Janet Sullivan and Anne Nagel – will spend the week of Dec. 15 to 19 at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 81 in Guysborough preparing Christmas hampers for between 140 and 170 households across the region.
“Monday we tape up the boxes,” she said. “Tuesday is into Antigonish to get food. Wednesday is filling the boxes at the Legion. Thursday is dispersal at the Legion, and Friday is deliveries to Canso.”
According to Williams, each “hamper” consists of two boxes – one of non-perishables and one of perishables – with additional items included for a holiday meal. “There’s a little more food that goes in it.”
Hampers will be available for pick-up at the Legion on Thursday, Dec. 18, beginning at 9 a.m. “There’s no closing time,” she noted. “We stay until they’re gone.”
On Friday, Dec. 19, volunteers will send 10 hampers to Canso with help from area residents who handle deliveries to people unable to pick up items.
This will be Williams’ first Christmas season leading operations. Her mother, Kay, was one of the founding members of the food bank nearly 20 years ago, helping to establish its earliest operations in a church furnace room before it became a registered non-profit in 2005.
The younger Williams assumed day-to-day coordination earlier this year following the decision by Elizabeth and Myles Connolly to step back after nearly 20 years in the role. Under their leadership, the food bank grew from those early days to a nationally accredited organization serving dozens of households every week.
While the food bank receives support from Feed Nova Scotia and other partners, Williams said local contributions remain vital. “We’ve been very blessed, and people are very kind and giving.”
To make donating easier, she emphasized that the food bank now accepts e-transfers at guysboroughfoodbank@gmail.com. Cheques and other contributions are also welcome, and donors may contact Williams.
“We can always take more,” she said.
