During the holidays, most people are in a very giving mood, but when the celebrations are over and the new year rolls around, donations usually slow to a crawl.

Local charities, such as food banks, have struggled to keep up with a strong demand that has continued to increase over the last few years as food prices continue to rise.

There are so many people in our area who struggle to afford nutritious meals, which is why organizations such as the Waterloo Region Food Bank are in desperate need of non-perishable food donations.

There’s also a huge demand for other essential household items such as diapers, pet food, school supplies, toiletries, cleaning supplies and reusable bags.

In addition to food and other household items, financial donations are especially important as they offer the flexibility for volunteers to buy fresh food or to load up on items that are in short supply.

Financial donations also give food banks the purchasing power to buy items in bulk at much cheaper prices which means more bang for your buck, pardon the pun :)

Thanks so much to the amazing people who volunteer their time at our local food banks – the work you do is truly an inspiration to us all!