Many people are facing challenging times right now with the rise of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some who have lost their jobs may look towards the food bank in the coming weeks to help provide for their family during this challenging time.

Millie Snow, General Manager of the Lacombe Food Bank says that supply has been regular, but more donations will be needed soon. 

“Well, it’s just kind of borderline. We’re keeping things going but we will need more,” explained Snow. 

Since the outbreak, she said the community has been relatively generous. 

“It’s good. People are generous right now. The high school brought over all their leftover veggies and whatever when they closed and other places brought things. We’re good but it’s going to be ongoing,” explained Millie. 

Right now, the foodbank is need of cleaning supplies and basic household food items. 

“Yeah, it’s coming to the place where we could use more toilet paper. [We need] more cleaning supplies always soap, laundry soap, dish soap, and hand soap. That kind of stuff and baking supplies is good, the canned stuff is good. Everything actually. Anything you use at home we will use here. Something we don’t need is granola bars. We have a good stock of that and now we’re not giving out lunches,” said Snow. 

Although the foodbank is not providing lunches, she is finding a need to give out more base food items so that parents are able to create lunches in their homes. 

As far as donations go, donating to the foodbank is still a pretty simple process.

People are not currently able to go inside the building, but Snow and one other volunteer will be ready to accept donations from outside the door. As for food hamper pick-up, things are done a little differently but ultimately people are able to receive the food they are in need of. 

“I think everybody is very careful about what they bring in and how they bring it in. Our door is closed we are just handling the people through the mailbox. They fill out a form and we take it down and fill it out and we take it down and either they will wait for it or we will deliver it to them. They don’t come into the food bank anymore,” explained Snow. 

The hours and food remain the same but Snow wants to remind the public that the service is still there and still helping out those in need when they need it. 

“I just don’t want people to stay home and think they can’t get food. We have food here. Unless they are really concerned, they can come in and access whatever food they need here,” said Snow. 

Unfortunately, with the pandemic, the food bank will not be able to drive home those who are receiving hampers but some volunteers are driving hampers out to the people who need it.