Yellowknife (Mar 07/03) - The Yellowknife Food Bank might start tightening the controls on their free food.

Over the past two months there's been a 60 to 70 per cent increase in the number of people using the food bank, said president Dave Ritchie.

Yellowknife Food Bank president Dave Ritchie said the food bank is having trouble keeping up with the demand. - Erin Fletcher/NNSL photo

Ritchie initially thought the increase was a post-Christmas phenomenon.

"This is not a one-time thing. It has seemed to develop into a steady trend," he said Wednesday.

The bank is open every second Saturday and usually spends $3,500 a month on food. Over the past two months they've increased the budget to $4,500 but they can't go on at that price, said Ritchie.

For the past two years there's been an average of 60 families -- about 240 people -- at the food bank every two weeks. Now there's up to 100 families, or 400 people, every two weeks.

"If we keep doing that every month we'll be out of business in the next six months," said Ritchie.

Who's using the food bank

Ritchie said he believes at least 90 per cent of those using the food bank are legitimately in need. But over the past few months he seen a lot of "new faces."

Some people are new to Yellowknife and are waiting for their first paycheque, he said.

"But we suspect there are some people who have been visiting the food bank twice," he said adding a husband and wife might line up separately for the same family in the same day.

The 10-person food bank board met Tuesday evening and decided to explore three options over the next month -- tighten up, add controls or reduce the amount of food given out.

Asking for addresses or proof of social assistance would be a feasible control, said Ritchie. But it is against the food bank's policy to violate anonymity.

Families could also be restricted to one visit a month or the amount given out could be reduced.

Families are already getting less than they need, said Ritchie.

A standard bag of food has $18 worth of groceries and includes cans of soup, vegetables, fruit, beans and some extras like baking goods, peanut butter and cheese spread.

A single parent with two to three kids can have one bag while a family of four or more is entitled to two bags.

The bank will continue to operate on the increased budget over the next month until they've made a decision, said Ritchie.

The food bank is also consulting the Canadian Association of Food Banks to find out what other food banks have done.

Yellowknife Food Bank is currently applying for membership to the national organization.

Food donations can be made at the Yellowknife Direct Charge Co-op or Extra Foods locations in Frame Lake and downtown. Contact the food bank to make a monetary donation.