Red Deer food bank demand more than doubles

The list of victims in Alberta's economic woes continues to get longer, with the Red Deer Food Bank Societysaying in the past year they are looking at a huge jump in demand.

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"It's like I have never seen it before," executive director Fred Scaife told theCalgary Eyeopener Monday.

"In 18 years I have never seen the numbers, the crowds and quite frankly the look of desperation on some people's faces."

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Scaifesays between October2014 and October2015 the increase in walk-in traffic jumped 112 per cent.

Other increases over roughly that same period are alsotroubling, he said.

"We saw a really disturbing trend, the increase in the amount of children, somewhere around 35 to 40 per cent more children than last year andthe number of families has gone up about 28 per cent, which means we are dealing with larger families, and when an economic downturn hits a big familythe impact is that much greater,"Scaifesaid.

Christmas time seems to bring out thegenerosity in the community soScaife isn't concerned about meeting the needs right now, but come April, May and June it might be a different story and then reducing the amount of food per person might be necessary.

"I have never seen that situation, quite frankly it is kind of frightening,"Scaife said.

"In 18 yearsit takes a lot to scare me but this time, it is really disturbing me."