A rise in food prices across Canada has food banks concerned about how many more people might need help, but also about the amount of donations coming in.
According to data released by Statistics Canada on January 22nd, Canadians paid 3.7 per cent more for food last month than they did in the same month a year earlier. Prices for fresh produce were up more than 13 per cent in December compared to a year earlier.
Marilyn Muller, Co-Chair of the Dauphin Food Bank says that the food bank is going to be affected in more than one way.
"We have more people coming in and needing more food more regularly. We also see prices rise when we buy things in bulk that we then put on our shelves to give out."
The Dauphin Food Bank is used to serving 30 to 50 families each time they are open, but within the last month they handed out over 84 food hampers.
Muller says that they have been fortunate to get many food and money donations this Fall and Christmas season, but this upcoming year they do expect their donations to go down.
