Sussex Church Food Bank Cancels Thanksgiving Hampers Amid Rising Costs

A church food bank in Sussex, New Brunswick, has announced it will not provide Thanksgiving turkey hampers this year. The decision by the Sussex Community Church, part of The Salvation Army, is driven by escalating demand and rising costs. On Monday, the church stated it will focus its resources on Christmas, opting to discontinue the Thanksgiving hampers typically featuring turkey and other holiday staples.

According to a statement from Maj. Pam Goodyear, a spokesperson for The Salvation Army, this year’s cancellations are a response to soaring prices and a decrease in turkey donations. “We’ve got an increase in need, we’ve got increased costs, donations are down,” Goodyear explained. The church usually distributes around 180 food hampers each month, designed to assist families facing food insecurity.

The regular monthly basket typically includes essentials such as produce, meat, dairy, and bread, but this October’s offering will not include turkey. Goodyear noted that the food bank has experienced a significant 20 percent increase in demand compared to last year, with many clients seeking assistance for the first time.

In previous years, turkeys for holiday hampers were sourced from Feed NB, a provincial distributor for food banks. However, this year, Feed NB has informed its partners that it cannot provide turkeys for Christmas hampers either. Executive director Stephane Sirois stated that resources initially allocated for Thanksgiving will instead be redirected to ensure that food is available during the Christmas period.

Sirois highlighted the logistical challenges associated with managing multiple special hampers within a short timeframe, stating, “It’s also a lot of work on our team to be doing a special hamper in October and then again in early December.” The organization is facing a critical funding shortfall, with revenue of $4.5 million projected against food purchasing costs expected to rise between $5 million and $6 million.

The previous provincial government had allocated $2 million for food bank support in 2024, but only $1 million was formally budgeted for this year. The newly elected Liberal government has since increased the budget to $2.5 million, but Sirois warned that the funding remains insufficient given the rising demand and food prices.

“We’re still talking to the provincial government to secure a longer-term agreement for funding, so that we don’t have to go through this every year,” Sirois said. The lack of reliable funding complicates negotiations with distributors and local farmers, who require advance notice of purchasing needs.

The challenges facing the Sussex Community Church food bank reflect broader issues impacting food banks across the country. Goodyear noted that many donors have been generous, allowing the organization to purchase food in bulk. Yet, the increasing costs and demand have created a “vicious cycle.”

As families prepare for the upcoming school year, the financial burden on households is intensifying, making the need for food assistance more pressing. Goodyear remarked, “This time of year is really a struggle for people.”

The Sussex Sharing Club, another local food bank, also provides monthly and holiday hampers in the area. Efforts to secure support from the community and local businesses remain critical for sustaining operations and meeting the heightened demand.

Brunswick News has reached out to the Sussex Sharing Club for further comment and is awaiting a response. The situation at the Sussex Community Church food bank underscores the ongoing challenges faced by food assistance programs amid fluctuating economic conditions.