It was very busy at a food bank in Lower Sackville Tuesday, with dozens of people lining up to register for support through the holidays.
For the first time, this year, Beacon House is not providing a turkey for those in need- instead, those who sign up will get a dry food box as well as a grocery store gift card.
Spokesperson Jim Gunn tells our newsroom, their funding comes from Feed Nova Scotia, whose clients are not only growing but also changing, with some who prefer a different kind of meat.
“So, what the Beacon House decided to do was to provide the Christmas hamper with all of the fixings…all kinds of things for a Christmas feast for the family. But then, instead of the turkey, give them a gift card to go buy whatever kind of meat they want.”
Gunn adds, this way, there is flexibility.
“Some don’t celebrate Christmas, and we are recognizing that. So, we are giving them a choice, rather than assuming everybody wants a turkey and celebrates Christmas. They may not, so we’ll give them a gift card instead.”
Huge demand
Only two hours after the Beacon House opened its doors, there were already 50 people signed up.
Gunn says, the amount of need this year, is much more than in the past, with well over 1,000 coming to the Beacon House alone, every single month.
“The number of people that we’re feeding through the food bank increases. The last number that we saw a few months ago… the number that was being reported to the board… was 1,500.”
In fact, numbers are so high everywhere, Feed Nova Scotia discontinued their 30-year-long Christmas Registry, to be replaced by a Holiday Fund.
They told our newsroom it was not an easy decision, but it would enable them to support food banks for holidays all year round with demand skyrocketing to the worst it’s ever been.
Positive response
Tuesday was the first day, those in need, could register for the food box.
Gunn says the response so far to the change has been positive.
“They appreciate the hamper… a good-sized hamper with provisions for a Christmas celebration. The gift card is going over well too.”
The box is filled with stove-top cranberry sauce, canned gravy, cookies and juice as well as a bag of vegetables.
At this point, it is unclear how much will be on the gift card, because Gunn says, that will be determined by how many people register.
You can sign up until December 6.
