The Salvation Army Food Bank is in dire need of donations, as most shelves are nearly empty.
Cpt. Brad Webster said the food bank will be temporarily closed this week (Monday through Friday) for two reasons: to restructure the Confederation Street office so it's more accommodating and because of low stock.
Webster said there has been a drastic drop in food donations.
"As of right now, I would say 75 per cent of our shelves are close to being bare," he said. "Our meat products, our canned meat, are nearly all gone; our canned pastas, things like Alphaghetti [and] Chef Boyardee, are completely bare; our soup situation is completely bare; our canned vegetables are completely bare; cereal has been bare for two weeks, approximately. So things are looking a little dire for the food bank right now."
Webster said in his seven years with the Sarnia location, this is the first time the food bank has been temporarily closed.
The food bank sees 12 households per day. Webster said the community resource operates in a unique way where clients can book an appointment for a 15-minute slot.
"It allows the client to come in and have conversations with our food bank worker. They're not rushed in and out," he said. "This is an opportunity for our food bank worker to meet with the client, discuss situations that may be going on."
Webster said it's evident people are going through hard times as the food bank and financial assistance programs are "constantly booked solid."
Although the food bank is closed this week, donations can still be dropped off at the front or back door at 970 Confederation St. between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
"Some of our most needed items are things such as canned meat or fish, canned pasta, canned vegetables, pasta itself, and pasta sauce. Cereal is a big ticket item that we haven't had for probably a couple of weeks at least," Webster said.
Other popular items the food bank could use include peanut butter, canned soups and stews, and oatmeal.
