The Rotary Club of Brockville hosted its 15th annual Harvest Sharing Food Drive over the last few days, with donations supporting the Brockville and Area Food Bank.
The food bank received just under $18,000 and over 8,000 pounds of food by Saturday.
The food bank provides a five-day supply of food to a family or an individual in need once a month, and this year’s drive comes as demand is rising at an unprecedented rate.
“It’s extremely stressful for us,” said operations manager Amande Petch.
In 2023, the food bank served roughly 60 people every day. But so far this year, they’re seeing 100 every day.
“What we’re seeing is unprecedented in the number of seniors we have coming in, and the number of teens and young adults that are coming in,” Petch said.
“A lot of single parents who are coming in, people who are working two jobs, people …