Tim Hortons food drive stocks shelves at Upper Room

The shelves lookeda little fuller Monday at the Upper Room Food Bank in Charlottetown following the annual TimHortonsfood drive, afterIslanders dropped off donations at Tim'slocations across the province.

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The annual drive is an important part of keepingIslanders in need fed for the summer months, and officials say the food collected should see them through until at least mid-July.

"Their generosity shows through time after time,"food bank manager Mike MacDonald told CBC Radio:Mainstreet host Angela Walker Monday. "We can't thank them enough for that."

Islanders gave approximately 3 cubic metres of food, which MacDonald said was on par with other years.The donations go to the food banks in the area where they are given.

"We also received a pretty significant amount of money, we're looking [at] over $6,000," MacDonald added, which he said was also about the same as the organization received last year, but significantly higher than years before that.

The donations mean a busy few days ofsorting for food bank staff and volunteers.

The food bank was looking to replenish supplies of meat, peanut butter, proteins and more. They received those as well as many other items including plenty of cereal.

"We're happy with the assortment of products that we received for sure," said MacDonald, adding good weather like P.E.I. experienced over the weekend puts everyone in a good mood, "maybe a bit more of a giving mood."

The food bank will behappy to accept donations from Island gardeners as soon as harvesting begins, he added.

Hoping for sun

Last week, MacDonald revealed the number of clients using the food bank continues to rise he's seeing about about 30 new households, or 90 new people, every month.

He noted the weather can also affect the number of people using the food bank when summers are sunny, people get work and need the food bank less, but when it's cool and rainy demand goes up.

Listen to Mainstreet weekdays on CBC Radio from 4 to 6 p.m.

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