As we continue to deal with the back and forth of the ongoing trade war and worrying about whether or not the items we’re putting in our carts are made locally, many Canadians have had to prioritize savings over supporting our country.
This includes right here in St. Thomas-Elgin, where our local food bank has experienced record-breaking demand, with nearly 25,000 people relying on its services in 2024—almost triple the 8,920 served in 2020.
Karen McDade, Manager of Public Relations and Administration at the St. Thomas Elgin Food Bank says the increase highlights the growing financial strain on families as food prices and living costs continue to rise.
While Christmas donations were strong, contributions have slowed in the early months of 2025. Grocery store bin donations and monetary support have dropped, creating concerns about keeping up with demand.
Despite the challenges, McDade says the food bank remains committed to supporting our residents.
“We’re seeing people who have never needed a food bank before—people with full-time jobs, homes, and cars, but they have to choose between paying their mortgage or feeding their kids,” she explains.
As we look at 2025, the food bank is focusing its fundraising efforts on building a new loading dock, which would allow for more efficient food deliveries. Currently, they must manually unload heavy pallets, a process McDade says is physically demanding for both staff and volunteers, many who are retired seniors.
Food staples such as pasta sauce, peanut butter, saltine crackers, and Kraft Dinner remain in high demand, along with hygiene products like shampoo, toothpaste, and laundry detergent.
And while the fear of needing to close the doors due to lack of donations hasn’t hit our local food bank, McDade says the same can’t be said elsewhere.
“We live in an amazing, generous community, and we’re so thankful for all the donations we receive,” McDade said. “But food insecurity is an ongoing issue, and every donation—big or small—makes a difference.”
Those looking to help can donate non-perishable goods directly, contribute funds, or support local food drives taking place across the community.
More details can be found on the St. Thomas-Elgin Food Bank’s website and Facebook page.
Written by: K. Freeman
