It鈥檚 an early start to their annual December food and toy donation drive by , the 91原创 non-profit outreach agency that helps the needy.

Founder Kim Snow announced donations are now being accepted at Focus West Logistics in Walnut Grove at 180-9347 200A Street during regular business hours, leading up to their two-day drive on Dec. 9-10 at the same site from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

鈥淚t鈥檚 getting so bad out there, honestly,鈥� that an early start was needed, Snow told the 91原创 Advance Tines.

鈥漅ight now we鈥檙e running out of food,鈥� Snow advised.

鈥淥ur lineups are getting bigger and bigger every day, so this is happening more often. We鈥檙e not able to keep up with the demand.鈥�

When they run out, they have to turn people away, she said.

鈥淸We] will go out and say, 鈥榶ou know what? we鈥檙e sorry, but we have a couple slices of pizza and that鈥檚 all we have. So that鈥檚 all we can do.鈥欌��

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Since the pandemic, the number of Kimz clients has more than doubled, including some former supporters who used to make donations, Snow said.

鈥淭hey say 鈥楰im, we just can鈥檛 afford to get the extras,鈥� 鈥� and 鈥榚xtras鈥� is basically putting food on the table because some of them have mortgage payments that have doubled, [or] the rent is going up.鈥�

She estimates more than 500 families are depending on the 91原创-based agency this Christmas.

鈥淲e used to have tons of food, but now we have more immigrants, we have more seniors, we have more working poor. There鈥檚 faces that we鈥檙e seeing that we鈥檝e never seen before.鈥�

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She believes it鈥檚 the worst year yet for Kimz clients, the result of a rising cost of living that has increased the numbers of people struggling to get by.

鈥淭he demand is getting so bad, that it鈥檚 harder for us to keep up, even though we have great sponsors,鈥� Snow said.

People who can鈥檛 make it to the drop-off can make contributions by emailing info@kimzangels.com or by phoning 604-838-6579.

Suggested donor items this season include canned food, baby food, dried pasta, cash donations or gift cards.

Only new and unused food and toys are wanted.