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3 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, April 1, 2009 Fareshare food bank crossing fingers for Easter By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF s tough times lash the economy, busy times are ahead at Oakville's Fareshare food bank heading into the traditional Easter food drive. The drive kicks off this Saturday, April 4 and runs through Sunday, April 19. Fareshare's volunteer executive director Dudley Clark has his fingers crossed. Clark predicted the current economic downturn before many had even thought of it, but Clark watches the numbers at Fareshare. And those numbers are steadily climbing, to the point where Clark is now preparing for the worst -- the potential to reduce the amount of food Fareshare is able to dole out. It hasn't come to that and Clark is putting lots of hope on the upcoming food drive. After all, it, along with daily food and cash donations, will take the food bank through to Thanksgiving when the next drive occurs. In recent years, Fareshare has seen the days when it could count on its traditional Thanksgiving and Easter food drives to bring in 60 per cent of the food it needs annually. Today, the reality is the drives, together, glean about 40 per cent of the food needed annually and Fareshare depends far more heavily on daily and cash donations. That is a complete reversal of what Fareshare had come to expect over the last decade. As Clark continues to graph Fareshare numbers trends, dating back to the recession of the early 1990s, he's looking at a graph line that he admits is worrisome. "I believe we're going to exceed that," he said. "Without being overly dramatic, we really need a tremendous Easter food drive. We need a super, duper Easter food drive," he said, noting the food collected in the drive must last through the summer and well into the fall. While the food bank is not entirely dependent on its annual Easter and A NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER STOCKPILING: Ron Kuipers stocks shelves at Fareshare where lots of hope is riding on the Easter Food Drive and food bank officials fear for the worst -- the possibility of some empty shelves. noted Fareshare also experienced its highest number of client visits in one month since 1996. January was another high-traffic month. "If this month (March) doesn't end up beating December, it will be so close that it won't matter," said Clark. Cash donations allow Fareshare to buy items when it runs short, however it may get to the point where some items are not given out every month, but less often. Clark is also hopeful that since not everyone has hit tough economic straits, those who are lucky may give a little bit more. "Right now it's just a question of whether it will translate into people maybe doing a little bit more because more people are needing it. I hope that will happen," said Clark. Fareshare is a non-profit organization run entirely by volunteers. It opened in 1988 and receives no government support. Last year, Fareshare experienced a 6.9 per cent increase in visits. In early 2009, Fareshare has experienced a 10.8 per cent hike in its numbers. Food can be dropped off at the food bank, located at 1240 Speers Rd., Unit 6, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday to Saturday. Donations will also be accepted at all Oakville fire stations and local "We need a super, duper Easter food drive. For the first time, we could run out of food ... not in total, but on a lot more items than we have in the past." Dudley Clark, executive director, Fareshare food bank NIKKI WESLEY / OAKVILLE BEAVER MAKING ENDS MEET: Joan Smith fills an order for a client family at Fareshare, where donations to the Easter Food Drive are needed badly as economic woes continue to increase traffic at the food bank. Thanksgiving food drives, they continue to be major suppliers. "For the first time, we could run out of food ... not in total, but on a lot more items than we have in the past," he said. Over the last six months, Fareshare has picked up 36 new clients each and every month. "That directly relates to the current state of the economy as more people have lost their jobs or been laid off," he said. The numbers speak for themselves, said Clark. "That's a lot of people and a lot of food that has to be provided," said Clark. Clark said he's thankful for one thing and that's that food donations were brisk over the Christmas holiday, which is helping keep Fareshare's shelves stocked. However, at Christmas, Clark supermarkets where Fareshare has collection bins. While donations of all non-perishable foods are welcome, the items most needed include: canned fruit and vegetables, crackers, cookies and deserts, instant coffee, tea (not herbal), canned stew, canned meat, canned pasta, pasta sauce and spaghetti, baked beans, liquid and powdered baby formula, baby cereal and kids' snacks like puddings and fruit cups. Two items that remain in high demand, according to Clark, are canned fruit and canned mixed vegetables. Monetary donations are also vital to Fareshare's operation as they are used to grocery shop for items that run low or are perishable. They are also used to provide vouchers redeemable at local supermarkets for milk and fresh fruit. For more information, call Fareshare at 905-847-3988.