Emergency food bank in Sudbury in desperate need of donations
An emergency food bank is reaching out to Greater Sudbury residents to help them help people in need.
There are empty freezers, fridges and shelves at the Inner City Home of Sudbury emergency food bank right now.
"It's despair, it's anxiety because we are actually facing the same thing that our clients are facing," said Ro Mullen, the administrator at the Inner City Home of Sudbury.
"It gives us a bit more empathy for what they are going through because if we can't get it and we are the supplier, then how much harder is it for people in the community to access it?"
Joe Drago, president of the food bank's board of directors, said they are short not only food, but also money and volunteers.
"So we are in need of some drastic help," Drago said.
While food donations are always welcome, officials said monetary donations are preferred.
"Monetary donations are really fine for us because we have an arrangement that with $1 we can buy $3 worth of food," said Drago.
"So if you give us a can, as I keep saying, we get the can. But if we get a dollar we can buy three times the amount of food that we need."
Officials said so far this year, the emergency food bank has seen a 40 per cent increase in people needing help with food insecurity.
"We are seeing a huge increase in new families who are working and just can't afford with even two, three jobs they just can't make it," said Mullen.
"We are seeing a lot of newcomers to Sudbury and we are seeing a lot of elderly people coming in who normally would make it on a pension and now are not making it."
Inner City Home of Sudbury will resume free courses in September offering some strategies and tips on managing difficult situations, having conflict-free communication and building self-esteem.
Officials said there is a strong interest in the courses right now as people face things like food insecurity, stress and isolation and want help dealing with these issues.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. seeks ban on using drugs in 'all public spaces,' shifting approach to decriminalization
The B.C. government is moving to have drug use banned in 'all public spaces,' marking a major shift in the province's approach to decriminalization.
Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial
Donald Trump's defence team attacked the credibility Friday of the prosecution's first witness in his hush money case, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme between Trump and a tabloid to bury negative stories to protect the Republican's 2016 presidential campaign.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Air traveller complaints to Canadian Transportation Agency hit new high
The Canadian Transportation Agency has hit a record high of more than 71,000 complaints in a backlog. The quasi-judicial regulator and tribunal tasked with settling disputes between customers and the airlines says the backlog is growing because the number of incoming complaints keeps increasing.
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid says he has Bell's palsy
Philadelphia 76ers All-Star centre Joel Embiid has been diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, a form of facial paralysis he says has affected him since before the play-in tournament.
U.S. flight attendant indicted in attempt to record teen girl in airplane bathroom
An American Airlines flight attendant was indicted Thursday after authorities said he tried to secretly record video of a 14-year-old girl using an airplane bathroom last September.