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They need all the staples and dry food they can get. That includes peanut butter, jam, cereal, tuna, rice, beans, bread, Kraft Dinner, juice boxes, baby formula, pasta and sauce.

“We’re not able to help,” said Muir. “If we have an excess of food we usually give it to the food banks that are out of food. But no one has extra food at this time to help them.”

Muir said the reserves of many food banks went low after Thanksgiving. More families have also been showing up lately because of the Coats for Kids campaign. When people pick up coats they also stop into the food bank.

Photo by Dan Janisse / Windsor Star

But Lady Laforet, executive director of the Welcome Centre Shelter for Women, said donations have also declined over the last few months.

“I know that community-wide the need has been quite high,” she said.

Laforet said her food bank is a small one that fully relies on donations, so even small fluctuations have a big impact.

“We’ve noticed the decline, decline, decline,” she said. “Usually the holidays are the one time of year you don’t have to worry about getting donations in because people generally give at that time of year. So for us to be heading into December with low stock is a bit unusual.”

Beaton said donations have also been down at the Windsor Homes Coalition, which has been serving 40 to 50 families a day, and she doesn’t know why. At the same time, she said, the demand has increased.

“We just cannot keep up,” said Beaton. “Normally we have pallets full of food, all different kinds. But for the last two weeks we’ve been really scrounging to find food. I have a loaf of bread and a can of tomato juice that I can give people. I feel it’s more demand than usual. I don’t know what’s happening with the other food banks but I know they’re all low on food also.”

Photo by Tyler Brownbridge / Windsor Star

Despite the tough times, Muir was confident that once word spreads about the shortage, people will step up.

“Windsor-Essex is so caring that as soon you get this out I’m sure they’re going to get food,” she said. “I’m sure Windsorites are going to take care of the problem because that’s the way this community is.”

Go to the Windsor-Essex Food Bank Association’s website at wefba.ca to learn how to plan food drives and get more details on the kinds of food needed.

twilhelm@windsorstar.com

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