Food banks in Airdrie, Okotoks brace for next spike in demand

After seeing a significant spike in demand for food hampers in March, two Calgary-area food banks say demand has levelled off recently.

So they're using the break as a chance to stock up and plan ahead for what they believe will be a long-term major rise in food bank use.

Airdrie Food Bank executive director Lori McRitchie says demand for help slowed somewhat in April, possibly driven by factors like people afraid to leave home, the need to self isolate and wider availability of temporary government support, including CERB payments.

But McRitchie says there are signs already that demand is on the rise again.

"So our walk-in traffic is back up, but our hamper numbers, not as high as they were pre-COVID, but they're getting very close and rising every week right now," she said.

Pamela McLean, executive director of the Okotoks Food Bank, says they have seen similar trends and are also working on plans to deal with an expected serious surge in food bank use later this year.

"Stockpile money, stockpile food because it's going to be a long haul," she said.

Both food bank directors say they're dealing with increased financial uncertainty as fundraising work has been disrupted by the pandemic.

Both organizations continue to need donations, community support and government help, and they want to assure clients their plans don't include closing their doors.