The Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre has seen a dramatic growth in the number of households in need.
Data from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 shows 521 people from 285 households were served by the food bank.
During 2024, 90 new households have received assistance from the food bank, said John Bubb, treasurer of the food bank and resource centre.
The figures are significant as the 2021 census showed Summerland had a population of 12,042, with 5,426 private dwellings.
Those receiving assistance from the food bank included 118 children and 403 adults. The adults ranged in age from 18 to over 65.
Households included single-parent families, two-parent families, couples without children and single-person households.
The largest category was single-person households, accounting for 167 of the households served.
Income sources included 70 households with employment income, 15 on employment assistance, 56 receiving social assistance, 66 or provincial disability support, three receiving private disability plan or workers鈥� compensation income, 40 receiving pension, two on student loans or scholarships, 21 with no income sources and four with other incomes.
Among the reasons for using the food bank鈥檚 services were low or delayed wages, not enough work hours, unemployment or recent job loss, insufficient social assistance benefits and high housing costs, among other reasons.
The food bank has served the community of Summerland since 1984. Janet Peake, president of the Summerland Food Bank and Resource Centre, said food banks in Canada were originally seen as a temporary measure, but have become permanent in communities of all sizes across the country.
According to Food Banks Canada, almost one in four people in Canada are facing food insecurity.
in British Columbia, there are 107 hunger relief agencies which are members of Food Banks B.C.
