With the holiday season fast approaching, Nanaimo’s largest food bank is making the difficult decision to scale back its annual Christmas hamper program as donations hit a five-year low and demand continues to climb.
“We’re looking at providing about 40% fewer hampers this year compared to last Christmas,” explains Margaret Chen, executive director of the Nanaimo Community Food Bank. “It breaks our heart, but the math simply doesn’t work with what we have in our accounts right now.”
The organization, which has operated on Vancouver Island for over three decades, typically distributes roughly 1,200 holiday hampers to families in need each December. This year, they’re planning for just 700-750 hampers, forcing difficult choices about which families will receive assistance.
The cutbacks come as Vancouver Island communities face a perfect storm of economic pressures. Statistics Canada reported last month that food prices in British Columbia rose 6.2% year-over-year, outpacing the national average. Meanwhile, housing costs in Nanaimo have jumped nearly 18% since 2020, according to the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation.
Peter Mortimer, a retired schoolteacher who has volunteered with the food bank for eight years, has noticed the changing face of food insecurity. “It’s not just the folks you might expect anymore. We’re seeing working families, seniors on fixed incomes, even people with decent jobs who just can’t make ends meet with these prices.”
The BC Food Banks Association confirms Nanaimo’s experience isn’t unique. Their quarterly report indicates a 23% province-wide increase in food bank usage compared to pre-pandemic levels, with Vancouver Island showing some of the steepest growth.
Local business donations, which typically surge during the holiday season, have also declined. “Many of our reliable corporate partners are themselves feeling the economic pinch,” Chen notes. “Where a business might have donated $5,000 last year, they’re coming in with $2,000 this year—if they can give at all.”
Each Christmas hamper costs approximately $85 to assemble and includes staples like pasta, canned goods, and produce, along with holiday treats and gift cards for perishable items like milk and eggs. For many recipients, these hampers represent their only opportunity to celebrate the season with something special on the table.
Lisa Morrison, a single mother of three who works part-time at a local retail store, received a hamper last Christmas. “That hamper meant everything to us. It wasn’t just food—it was dignity. It meant I could put something under the tree for my kids because I wasn’t spending every penny on groceries.”
Morrison is concerned about her family’s prospects this year. “I don’t know what we’ll do if we don’t qualify. My hours got cut back in September, and the rental increase hit in October. The math just doesn’t work anymore.”
The food bank has implemented a new triage system, prioritizing households with children, seniors living alone, and those with documented medical needs. Staff describe the process as “heartbreaking but necessary.”
City councillor Darryl Wilson says municipal leaders are aware of the growing crisis. “We’re looking at what emergency measures might be possible, but city budgets are already stretched thin. This is really a situation calling for provincial intervention and community support.”
The provincial Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction told the Victoria News they’re “monitoring the situation closely” but pointed to existing programs rather than emergency funding. Their spokesperson noted that the BC Family Benefit and the Climate Action Tax Credit had both seen increases this year.
Community response has begun to mobilize. The Nanaimo Chamber of Commerce is organizing an emergency fundraising drive, and several faith communities have accelerated their collection efforts. Local grocery chain Island Foods has pledged to match the first $10,000 in public donations.
“We need about $75,000 to close the gap and serve everyone who qualified last year,” explains Chen. “That sounds like a lot, but spread across a community like Nanaimo, it’s achievable if people understand the urgency.”
For those interested in helping, the food bank is accepting donations through their website, by phone, or in person at their Fitzwilliam Street location. They’re also seeking volunteers to help assemble and distribute the hampers they can provide.
The food bank plans to begin accepting applications for Christmas hampers on November 20, two weeks later than usual, giving them more time to raise funds and finalize numbers.
“The holidays should be about hope and community,” Chen says, looking around at shelves noticeably barer than in previous years. “We’re determined to do everything possible to spread that hope as far as we can, but we need the community to rally behind us like never before.”
