Fort McMurray food bank prepared for reopening rush

The food bank inFort McMurrayis back up and running, and could see more people coming through its doors in the next week alone than during the entire monthbefore the wildfire.

The Wood Buffalo Food Bank Associationreopened at noon on Saturday, with staff prepared to meet up to 100 clients under large green tents set up in the parking lot behind the food bank warehouse.

"We're preparing for a pretty big increase in the number of families we're helping, just based on how many people have shown up here, just on a hope we could provide them food that day," executive director Arianna Johnson said.

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Since returning to Fort McMurrayonJune 3 to assess the damage to the food bank, Johnson said about 20 to 50 peoplehave turned up at the door each day.

"We weren't prepared or ready to provide assistanceyet," Johnson said, noting the families were redirected to the welcome centre, where grocers sent 13,000 emergency hampers.

The food bank is staffed by 10 people, seven of which have already returned to the town. They've worked with more than 100 volunteers from nearby oilsandsoperations and about 20 community members to get ready for the reopening.

All non-canned food items anything in boxes, bags, jars and bottles had to be thrown out after the fire.

Since undergoing a health inspection on June 6, shelves have been restocked with donations from across the province, which rolled up the highway in two tractor-trailers and a few vans.

Ifyou need that little bit of extra support, please don'tallow pride to stop you from coming down and accessing our services.-AriannaJohnson, executive director,Wood Buffalo Food Bank Association

But the current facility isn't large enough, or equipped, to handle the influx of food.

The food bankhad to purchase two 40-foot storage cans and is working on securing a secondary warehouse and a refrigerated trailer.

The organizationstill needs itemslike pasta, crackers, granola barsand juice, and will be keeping an up-to-date list on itswebsite of what's in demand.

"Being the Wood Buffalo Food Bank, we're always part of the relief effort when there's any kind of tragedy in our city or in our region because we sit at the emergency social services table," Johnson said.

"We really want people to understand that it doesn't really matter your employment circumstances right in this moment. We understand the financial burden that has been placed on our families. Ifyou need that little bit of extra support, please don'tallow pride to stop you from coming down and accessing our services."

No appointment necessary

The food bank has historically operated on an application basis that involved screening and appointments.

But until September, the food bank is asking people in need of assistance to simply come, line up and fill out a form.

"We just ask people to be patient and understand that we are doing the best we can with the knowledge we have," Johnson said.

"We do provide a service, but staff also experienced this tragedy and to be kind and respectful when you're dealing with them, because several of staff have lost their homes and are still working."