Meet the people who keep a St. John's food bank running when the need is greater than ever

CBC Newfoundland and Labrador has launched its annual campaign in support of local food banks ahead of Feed N.L. Day on Dec. 15. Visit cbc.ca/bekind for more information and help make the holidays brighter for those in need.

Three times a week at the Salvation Army food bank in downtown St. John's, staff and volunteers welcome in people who line up for a hot meal and a food hamper.

Don Langdon and his wife Bernice are two of those volunteers, taking time out of their retirement to help out at the food bank inside the Ches Penney Centre of Hope. Bernice fills up a cart with takeaway containers holding a warm meal, which Don then gives to people at the door as he greets them.

"We decided to come here because we know that there are a lot of people who need help, you know, with housing, with food, with clothes," said Don.

"I just consider it an extension of the hand of Christ to give back to people and to help them out."

Maj. Steven Barrett, the centre's executive director, says the food bank needs help, especially at Christmas. There's a need for volunteers on the ground or donations from the public to keep up with the skyrocketing demand.

A recent report from Food Banks Canada suggests demand is higher than ever before, with visits to food banks in Newfoundland and Labrador up by more than12 per cent.

Barrett says they serve at least 500 meals per day in the three times a week they operate, more than double the 200 served before the pandemic. The centre also gives out 250 food hampers every week.

"People are having to choose between, you know, maybe their housing, maybe it's their vehicle. And food sometimes is the last resort," he said.

"We do this work on the backbone of some great staff, as well as very dedicated volunteers."

Almost 75 people volunteer regularly at the centre, according to Jamie Locke, the divisional secretary for public relations at the Salvation Army.

'It gets bigger every day'

In the kitchen stands John Dawe, the centre's chef. He says he and his team work well together, especially under the constant pressure.

"We see more new people," said Dawe. "And it's just continuing to grow. It gets bigger every day."

When the doors open at 11:30, people flow in and sit down as volunteers bring them food and drinks.

Langdon, who has been volunteering for about three years now, said he knows many of the clients by name, as well as their stories.

"For me, it's being able to reach out and to be there if they want to talk," Langdon said.

"You treat them with respect, they treat you with respect, right? That's all they ask."

He said there are stereotypes about the people who use a food bank — like that they are only in need because of their own doing — but he doesn't believe them at all.

"A lot of these people are professional people," Langdon said.

"I spoke to a couple of while back, one was a firefighter, one was a paramedic, but yet they were here getting meals, going to the food bank. Things have happened, one got hurt, couldn't work anymore, and the other one lost their job. And things just pile up on these people, right?"

The place fills up quickly, and the line for hot meals gets longer. On the other side of the building, there is a line of people waiting for food hampers. They are people from various backgrounds with many reasons for being there, says Barrett.

"I think to work in this field or to volunteer, you have to have a certain love, passion, and desire to try and make a difference in the lives of those that we serve every day," Barrett said.

"You gotta have a reason to get out of bed in the morning, right? My reason is to get up and come here and make sure everybody's happy at the end of the day." said Dawe.

Langdon said he and his wife would volunteer seven days a week if the centre were open every day.

"If you have any compassion for your fellow man, this is the place to be."

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