THE JANUARY Terrace Churches Food Bank held steady in client numbers and food bags compared to last January with the exception of an increase in singles and couples.
A total of 617 bags were handed out to 425 families last week, said food bank treasurer Dennis Brewer. In January 2010, food bank volunteers gave out 656 bags to 432 families, he added.
This January saw a 12 per cent increase in single/couples and a slight decrease in families of 3 or more compared to January 2010, he said. That’s an increase in singles/couples to 233 this January from 208 in January 2010, a difference of 25.
“I understand the HST cheques were issued the week before we were open so this may have been a factor,” he said. “However January is traditionally lower [in client numbers and bags] than December.”
Last December, singles and couples rose to 273 from 244 in December 2009, a difference of 29, which is also 12 per cent.
The December 2010 bag count was up to 773 from 678 the previous December, an increase of 95.
The number of families rose to 523 last December from 461 in December 2009, an increase of 62.
Volunteers are expecting a busy month in February and are planning on giving out 750 bags. “We will have to purchase most of what we will need in February as we have gone through most of what came in over the past couple months,” said Brewer.