Banff Food Bank desperate for donations as shelves nearly bare

Shelves at the Banff Food Bank are nearly bare just days before the facility is set to reopen.

As many as 60 people are expected to line up when the facility reopens from its summer closure Sept. 6, however the current stockpile likely won't be enough to feed everyone, said volunteer Alanna Pettigrew.

"Normally we just don't need to ask people," she said on the call for donations.

"It somehow is always there. We're at a point right now where it's not there."

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Normally food bank officials try to incorporate fresh foods in their offerings, but they currently have none, said Pettigrew.

"In the past we would give out a dozen eggs so we'll probably break those dozen eggs into half," she said.

"It'll be probably a choice. Would you like a banana, an apple?"

As a result, staff are putting out a plea for assistance, noting monetary donations are the most helpful.

Volunteers blame the economic downturn for the dip in donations, which has also resulted in their clientele nearly doubling, said Jill Harrison, community development coordinator for the town of Banff, noting many employees have transitioned from temporary foreign worker status to permanent residency and citizenship, meaning they're now allowed to bring their families here.

Added to that is the fact many businesses hired staff early in the season.

Harrison said she is confident residents will rally around them in their time of need just as they do for the less fortunate.

"I think people who come to the community and want to be socially responsible will respond too," she said.

"We've seen it in the past so I think we'll see it again."