'This is the time of year that we're really down': Torbay food bank calling for donations

The Torbay Food Bank is struggling to stay afloat amidst harsh economic times and an increase in demand.

• Help needed: N.L. food banks ask for mainland donations

"The latest budget is affecting us now, about two weeks at least," said Madonna Galway, who volunteers at the food bank with her husband, Leo Galway.

"Whenhis [Dwight Ball]'s budget came down,we're after getting an increase in our clients coming here," Leo Galway added.

"Yes there's more people coming now with the economy down," Madonna Galway said.

"A lot of people moving into the area are single parents with three and four children. And the seniors are coming because their rent has gone up. We're going to have more now, with everything the way it is."

Bi-weekly Food Hampers

Every second Thursday, the husband and wife team prepares food hampers for clients in the Torbay area. Between6:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. they serve clients in Torbay, Outer Cove, Bauline, Middle Cove and Flat Rock.

An average hot mealhamper consists of dry pasta, spaghetti or macaroni, canned tomato sauce, canned tomatoes and ground beef.

"Right now all we have is soup and green peas, and it's kind of hard to do a hamper," Madonna Galway said.

"We're getting a bit low on the cereal now with kids coming off for eight weeks;it's the children we're more worried about than anything."

Lacking donations

Madonna Galway estimatedthey serve about 120 families a month these days, compared to their usual 100. She addedthat 100 families equals about500 people, with most families consisting of four or five people.

Not only are they getting an increase in clients, but they are struggling to get donations.

"Our donors are gone because we lost our tax receipts," Madonna Galway said.

"Knights of Columbus give us about $500 a year, which we have to use for pest control. We have a driver that we try to give a bit of gas to...So what comes in [is] not only going to food but necessary things. We can't have mice around here and we have to have someone pick up our food."

Leo Galway said he's been volunteering at the food bank for 20 years. And even though the food bank is there, not everyone who needs it uses it.

"[There are] a lot of people here in Torbay that should be coming and won't come, for their pride. And like I'm after telling them, pride is not going to feed them, and I says 'swallow your pride and come, we're here to help you," Leo Galway said.

Despite the shortfallin donations and donor money, Leo Galway saidthey'll do whatever they can to help.

"We'll never turn anybody away," he said.