Demand for Salvation Army Christmas hampers higher than ever

The Salvation Army in St. John's has provided hampers for families during the holiday season for years, but one volunteer says demand is expected to be higher than ever this Christmas.

Major John Goulding said increased demand at food banks throughout the rest of the year has the Salvation Army preparing for a larger need for hampers during the holidays.

"We are anticipating that we will see an increase of probably about 100, 115 in comparison to last year. Last year we did just about 1,700 and this year we are preparing for about 1,800," he said on CBC Radio's Weekend AM.

"The reason for that is because over the last eight months, we have seen a significant increase in the numbers of people that have been coming to the regular food bank that we conduct throughout the week."

More people struggling

Goulding said a lot more people appear to be struggling to make ends meet between pay cheques and require support from groups like the Salvation Army.

"A lot of these people are employed, but the source of their income isn't sufficient to meet the increase of other demands they have, like the increase in gas, for example," he said.

"[For] those with children, there's the increased cost of school activities and various things that they have to contend with for their family … A visit to a food bank like the Salvation Army's enables them to keep themselves above the poverty line."

A visit to a food bank like the Salvation Army's enables them to keep themselves above the poverty line.- Maj. John Goulding

The downturn in Newfoundland and Labrador's economy has an effect on everyone, but Goulding said those in need don't have extra resources for a rainy day.

"The cutback in the economy and the oil and gas industry is having its rippling effect," he said. 

"The taxes have increased to a certain level, the price of gas has increased, and so it's really impacting those who are on a lower budget, rather than those that might have had some resources to carry them through."  

No easy answer

The Salvation Army major doesn't have an easy answer for how to fix the problem of increased demand at food banks, but he said more education for families in need could be a big help. 

"For example, helping them to budget properly what they have, how to use the resources they have more wisely," said Goulding

"We at the Salvation Army are anticipating that when we have our new facility on Springdale Street in place, that that's one of the programs that we're going to be enhancing there." 

He said other agencies and food banks are experiencing similar increases in demand. 

Goulding said the Salvation Army's Christmas kettle campaign has seen encouraging support, reaching about 55 per cent of its goal with two weeks remaining. 

He said people can donate their money or time to the kettle campaign to help people get the food they need.