Day 18 of 29 Days of Gifts was an easy give.  

There was a time when food banks were seen as a stopgap measure for individuals and families that had fallen on hard times.  The temporary help provided the bare necessities for those who were between jobs or whose social assistance had yet to come through.

How times have changed.

Today, food banks are a fixture in every Canadian city - and in a growing number of towns.  And rather than an interim solution, they have become a way of life for people who can't afford to put food on the table.

The Salvation Army food bank is facing its highest-ever surge in demand, an agency spokeswoman said Wednesday, a byproduct of the area's faltering economy

"The demand for assistance has just risen drastically," Maj. Patricia Phinney said. "We had 120 new families in September come into our food bank who have never come for help before. "We've never seen those numbers before. The thing is, a lot of people who at one time were able to donate to the Salvation Army are now the people who are coming in for assistance," Phinney said. "It's very sad. We're very glad to give back to them. But it's heartbreaking."

A survey released last week noted a local family of four relying on social assistance would spend between 81 and 91 per cent of its income on food and rent alone.

Our local Realtors Association holds a canned goods drive for our local food bank every November.  So Day 18 was a day of sorting thru my own cupboards and that of my Mother's to put together a good collection of canned and packaged goods to donate.  It is amazing what we can collect and push to the back of our cupboards.  All good stuff but just forgotten about.  I'll add to my donation tomorrow at the grocery store with a few more items that can always be used: peanut butter, macaroni, canned hams, tuna and canned fruit.

Think of your own town or city and those going hungry.  Do what you can today, tomorrow, soon!

See you tomorrow,