The fun days of summer are here, but for some people the agonizing pain of hunger still lingers and is more prominent than ever before. Penny Fox, director of Smoky River Family Community Support Services (FCSS), says they have seen an influx in the number of applications for food hampers. “The last two weeks have been extremely busy at the High Prairie and District Food Bank,” says Fox. “Ten applications for hampers have been processed in the Smoky River region in the last 13 days.” The FCSS office in Falher handles applications for residents of the direct region for the High Prairie & District food bank. Employees of FCSS offices in the region are shocked at the increase in demand this summer. According to the manager of the food bank, Kim Dumont, July is turning out to be a very busy month. She told Fox recently their organization has already packed 38 hampers this month, compared to only 26 in July 2007. Fox explains that the economy has placed increased stress on individuals who are trying to raise a family on low incomes. “Times are tough with the high rent, increasing cost of fuel and other costs of living going up,” says Fox. “Even those who are working at a living wage for Alberta of $12 per hour are struggling when the rent is often more than 40 or 50 per cent of their take home pay.” Fuel prices have reached upwards of $1.30 per litre, thus making daily living harder for individuals with low incomes. Everything is affected by the increased gas prices, even groceries, rent and other daily necessities have gone up due to the hike. Fox explains that once a family starts adding up the cost of fuel to get back and forth to work, utilities, insurance and it does not take them long to find out there isn’t much left to buy food and other necessities. “FCSS is expecting that there are busier times to come, as last year our busiest month for applications was in August,” explains Fox. “Parents are getting their kids ready to go back to school, school fees, clothing, footwear, and all that often “eats” into the food budget of families.” Fox says last year the food bank donated 127 hampers in the summer months alone. She adds this reflects that the need for assistance is still strong during summer months. The food bank can only be used in an emergency with limits of no more than two hampers in a six month period. Families are forced to make due with the meagre availability. “Often a repair to a vehicle or other emergency expense tip them over the financial edge of being able to make ends meet and that is when we see them applying for them (hampers) and looking for help from the community.” Fox says the good news is that donations to the food bank are fairly consistent in the area. She says that a substantial cash donation to the bank in May has helped a great deal and that the money was used to supplement the food hampers with fresh foods, such as bread, meat and fruit. There are food bank drop-off centres located at the Falher and District CO-OP, IGA, and Lakeview Foods in McLennan. Any donations made to the food bank in the Smoky River region stays in towns throughout the region. The High Prairie food bank delivers food to satellite storage locations in McLennan when the local branch cannot provide enough food for the region. “The food bank covers a huge geographical area and they have a high demand,” says Fox. “So, the more we can collect locally, the easier it is for everyone involved.” Fox requests that if a few extra items can be fit into your budget that you donate to the food bank. “Please remember that we need you now just as much as the rest of the year,” says Fox. “Every little bit goes a long, long way.” If you would like to make a donation, feel free to phone FCSS at 780-837-2220 or call the High Prairie location at 780-523-5777.