The CEO of the UHC-Hub of Opportunities was not surprised when she read Feed Ontario's findings that foodbank usage rose 36 per cent last year.
June Muir said demand at local food banks continues to rise and donations are decreasing.
"Pre-pandemic we were feeding, here at UHC- Hub of Opportunities, 300, We had 300 visits. Today, it's 1,500 visits that speaks to where we're at right now," said Muir.
According to Feed Ontario's Hunger Report released last week, 800,822 adults and children accessed food banks in the province 5,888,685 times.
It determined drivers of foodbank usage include the rise of inflation, cost of living, the lack of unaffordable housing and precarious employment.
The Windsor Essex County Health Unit released its Nutritious Food Basket report last month. It determined an average family of four spends an average of $262.68 a week on groceries.
"People that donate might be finding their own grocery bills rising so maybe that's causing them to give less, that makes sense," said Muir. "People that gave might still be giving but giving less because inflation is hitting them as well."
This holiday season, the food bank needs cereal, kid's snacks, pasta, pasta sauce and monetary donations to purchase perishable items.