Demand doubles but shelves bare at food bank in Gander

The shelves at the Salvation Army Food Bank in Gander are the emptiest they've been in 15 years, according to family services coordinatorWanda Loder.

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Loder saidthey may soon reach a point where the food bank has to turn families away.

"Our numbers at this food bank have increased greatly," said Loder. "(Numbers) are almost double since last year."

Loder said the food bank serves families from Appleton toGander Bay to Hare Bay.

A delivery of food from theCommunity Food Sharing Association in St. John's arrived on Tuesday.

"They sent us a skid. It'll probably last a couple of days and we'll be back to nothing again," she said.

Loder said the next deliverywon't arrive until the first week of July and worries they may have to turn families away.

"That is our greatest worry, our challenge. We don't want to turn anyone away but if our shelves are empty, what can we do?"

Need variety 'to make a meal'

The food bank is well stocked with cereal and soup, butLoder says the organization needs donations that help make dinner.

"We need juice, tin milk, KraftDinner, spaghetti, beans anything that would make a meal," said Loder.

Loder said the shelves are the emptiest she's seen since she started working with the Salvation Army.

"Right now we're asking the help of the community if they would so kindly find it in their hearts to drop off (donations)," said Loder. "Anything that would help the needy in our community, acommunity that's relying on this food bank right now."