Once a month, Norma Dingwell puts together food-filled donation hampers for Islanders in need, and preps them for Thursday morning pickup.

As general manager of the Southern Kings and Queens Food Bank in Montague, it’s part of her monthly routine. 

She’s been noticing the line gets longer each time, and she worries that she may not be able to keep up with the growing demand. 

“The demand is increasing week to week,” she said. 

“Our client numbers are going up, so … that means more money from our budget… It’s really hard with the price of everything constantly getting higher.”

Dingwell said the non-profit serviced about 302 families in March alone, which is up from the same time last year. 

Now, it’s the norm to see one to two new families looking to sign up for the program on a weekly basis. 

“We worry a lot,” she said. 

The Montague Food Bank isn’t the only organization to feel the pinch.

The West Prince Caring Cupboard has seen an increase in visits through both January and February.  

Barb Ramsay-Desroches, the president of the group’s board of directors, doesn’t expect to see those numbers slow down anytime soon. 

“I think it’s more evident right now that the cost of living is outpacing wages,” she said.

“What we’re seeing is people are having a harder time making ends meet.” 

Grocery prices in Canada have already risen significantly, with a hike of more than 30 per cent since February 2021, according to Statistics Canada. 

Rising fuel costs are expected to add further pressure in the weeks ahead, especially for fresh fruits and vegetables, which at this time of year still travel long distances to reach Canadian stores.

Much of these rising costs is partly a result of the war in Iran. Food banks are left to compensate for the ripple effects.

“If you’re working and you have to put gas in your car, that money is probably coming out of somewhere else,” said Ramsay-Desroches.

‘Not just existing, but actually living’

Dingwell said she’s grown accustomed to seeing people in tears when they first step foot in the door. 

People of all ages, financial situations and life circumstances access the services. Many of them work full-time. 

With a variety of clients comes a variety of needs — from clothes and boots to food products for those with dietary restrictions. 

Dingwell said the group will meet to decide how best to spend under the circumstances.

‘Neighbours helping neighbours’

Both food banks say they’ve never had to turn anyone away empty-handed, but they have noticed more families returning for food and supplies before the next month’s pickup takes place. 

They both receive some financial support from the province, and funding through fundraising initiatives. 

But they say it’s the generosity of the communities they serve that makes their outreach possible. 

“We’re able to keep pace and we’ve had a really good year,” said Ramsay-Desroches. 

“We don’t have any concerns right now. We never want to take that situation for granted though.”

Not only has their group been holding pace, it has been adding more fresh produce to each hamper thanks to local donations. 

“I think it’s a true testament to what it means to be a community,” she said.

“It’s neighbours helping neighbours.… I think all of P.E.I. has that.”