Central Okanagan Food Bank asking for helping hands as volunteer numbers drop

Photo: Madison Erhardt

The Central Okanagan Food Bank needs a helping hand. Several, in fact.

“Right now, we could use more volunteers. We had a good amount of volunteers in the month of December but January, maybe with people travelling or the colder weather, we are down,” says COFB CEO Trevor Moss.

Moss says some of their regular volunteers are snowbirds. So, he’s encouraging others in the community to lend a hand, even for one day a week or one day a month.

“If people want to give back, we would gladly love to have them. We will give them an orientation, and they can pick a time and day they want at any time.

“We’re also encouraging corporations and groups to actually sign up during this time of year, because this is usually our lowest time for volunteers,” says Moss.

He points out that donations have been tapering off over the past six months but couldn’t say for sure if it’s because donors are being pinched by inflation.

At the same time, demand has jumped.

“Overall, right across the board, our numbers are just as high or higher in January as what they were in December. So inflation is doing a real number of people right now.”

Moss admits that the variety of fresh produce at the COFB is limited currently, but there’s still enough of the staples of potatoes, onions and carrots to go around.

A local philanthropic family foundation, which wishes to remain anonymous, has offered to match donations through the month of February to the Tiny Bundles Program for pregnant women and new mothers.

The Central Okanagan Food Bank’s Kelowna location serves between 4,500 and 5,000 people monthly. The West Kelowna location serves approximately 800 clients a month.

You can find more information about donating on the COFB website.