TERRACE Churches Food Bank finished its year on a positive note, with its numbers slightly down from April, said its president.
The bag count from January to May was down 400 bags, or eight per cent, from 2012.
“We regularly get the question ‘why do you think the numbers are decreasing?’ There are no solid answers to this question but perhaps some of our clients are now currently employed by new businesses that have opened recently,” said food bank president John Wiebenga.
“In May, we were blessed with extra supplies of food and dry goods, which came from local stores as well as Food Banks BC out of Vancouver, which we are a member of,” he added, saying that included extras like cereal, coffee, paper towels, kleenex and garbage bags.
Most volunteers are on summer break, while a skeleton number continue to “man the store.” Food and other items continuously coming in through summer will help to prepare for the fall season. The food bank thanks the businesses and individuals for their support in the past year, without whom it wouldn’t exist, said Wiebenga.
The food banks will start again this fall.