Harvest Share food bank in desperate need of donations.
Harvest Share manager Gail Macdonald adds a jar of sauce to the small stock. Shelves inside the food bank are nearly bare, Macdonald said.
Cody Storm Cooper/Beacon Star
PARRY SOUND – Although it’s normal for this time of year, it’s still frightening to have the shelves at Harvest Share so empty, said manager Gail Macdonald.
Wednesday morning Macdonald said the food bank is out of everything and, to compound the issue, she said it seems as if the need has increased.
“Over the summer, as per normal, we don’t get many donations, just little dribbles that come in,” said Macdonald. “In September we’re swamped (with those using the food bank) and we’re getting in very small amounts of food.”
The only thing that the organization doesn’t need is cookies; a large skid came in earlier this month, Macdonald said.
Necessary items include: soups, pasta, pasta sauces, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables and fruits, beans and peanut butter. As well as items children can take to school in their lunches, like canned meats, juice boxes, granola bars, puddings and fruit cups.
Although Macdonald sees it as a kind gesture, Harvest Share cannot accept any items that have been opened or are past their expiry date.
“That’s a real problem for us. We get a lot of opened items or half-used items like ketchup. We have no way of knowing how old that ketchup is first of all and we’re mandated by the Health Unit so we have to ensure (expiry) dates are followed and because I can’t assure that that item is fresh, we can’t give it out,” she said.
Food items can be dropped off at Harvest Share’s 22A Mary Street location Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or through the drop box.
“Our shelves are pretty sparse, we’re down on everything. It’s not abnormal to be this way, it’s just a little scary and the demand is crazy-high,” she said.
To contact Harvest Share to make a donation after hours call 705-774-9111.