(Photo: courtesy office of MP Ginette Petitpas Taylor)

Everyone is feeling the crunch as a result of rising costs.

Food Depot Alimentaire Executive Director Stephane Sirois says, “Donations are way way down, as much as 80 per cent in some sectors. Our food budget, we are halfway through our fiscal year and it is blown. We have exceeded our food budget.”

He adds they had to spend almost 10 times more just to get to the exact same volume of food.

Food Depot Alimentaire supplies over 60 food banks and soup kitchens in the province.

Sirois anticipates things are only going to get worse with the holiday season quickly approaching.

“We’ve talked to all the other provincial organizations across the country and everyone is in the same boat. Everyone is saying the same thing. Everyone has exceeded their purchasing budget. Everyone is seeing increased numbers. So it’s not just New Brunswick, it’s everywhere across the country,” Sirois adds.

He suggests for those who would like to help, try planning a food drive at your office over the next couple of months.

“You can donate food or money to your local food bank, or you can go in and volunteer. The holiday period will be crucial to replenish stock and the funds of your local food bank,” Sirois says.

Food drive campaigns for the holiday season are expected to kick off mid to late November.