How the pandemic has affected the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank

When the pandemic hit, demand for the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank nearly doubled.

Staff worried about having enough food and how they would serve the people of Cambridge and North Dumfrieswho depend on its services.

"Initially we saw quite a surge," said the food bank's interim executive director Dianne McLeod. "We were seeing approximately 100 families a day."

• LISTEN: CBC K-W goes to the Cambridge Self-Help Food Bank

The demand has decreased but is still above what the food bank was seeing before the pandemic, according to McLeod.

She says the surge in clients has been met with an abundance of donations from individuals in the community, local grocery stores and Food Banks Canada.

"I was nervous at first, but my phone was ringing off the hook within the first week of the pandemic of people asking how they could help," said McLeod.

More food available

Joanie Cooper feltimmediate panic at the beginning of the pandemic. She worried about feeding her three young children.

But over the past few months she's actually noticed more availability of food.

"We've been getting a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits ... tons of stuff that wasn't available before because donations weren't coming in," said Cooper.

During the pandemic, Cooper's family has been depending on the food bank more than usual, she says.

She comes by every seven days to pick up a few boxes of local produce, meat, milk and eggs.

"Without them, I'm not sure we would have been comfortable with the amount of food we would have been able to eat," said Cooper.

Other than increased demand and donations, more safety procedureshave been introduced. There's now a plexiglass barrier separating where volunteers and the clients stand. They'vealso ramped up online workshops and programming.

'Feels like home'

The number of volunteers has also been reduced.There are now only two people at a time giving out food.But the food bank has still welcomed new volunteers.

"The first few hours I was nervous, but after that it kind ofjust feels like home," saidLeeah Toner, a grade 12 student who started volunteering at the beginning of the pandemic. She says the people she's met who use the food bank's services are "the funniest, most humble people I've met in my life."

Toner and her friendJaden Carr, also graduating from grade 12, say they decided to volunteer to feel less helpless with the uncertainty of school. It felt good to get out of the house and do something for others. And it's the the people that have made the biggest impression on them.

"You never know people's stories." said Carr.

Now that summer is here, the food bank hopes it can continue providing people with weekly essentials. But McLeod says the summer months usually have the fewest donations.

They're asking communities to keep the donations coming while they stay focused on serving the people who come through their doors.

It's that consistency and respect which has made the food bank feel like home for Cooper.

"We feel like family," said Cooper. "They treat you like you would treat your brother or your sister."