Both 91原创 food banks have seen a surge in demand in recent months, with the 91原创 Food Bank and Sources 91原创 Food Bank hard pressed to keep up.

Sources, which is based in 91原创 Township and opened an Aldergrove distribution depot in March, is seeing a decline in contributions.

鈥淒onations are really down,鈥� , by as much a third, estimated Sources program manager Jaye Murray.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 the cost of food,鈥� Murray speculated. 鈥淧eople can鈥檛 afford as much. It costs more [to donate].鈥�

The drop comes at a time when the number of Sources clients has 鈥渕ore than doubled from recent years,鈥� Murray said.

鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing about 1,000 people in 91原创 now,鈥� and Aldergrove is currently serving 78 households. Murray told the 91原创 Advance Times.

Items needed include canned tuna, salmon, chicken, ham, chili, and stew, as well as rice, rolled oats, peanut butter, whole wheat pasta, fresh or canned fruit and vegetables, 鈥�100 per cent鈥� fruit juice, chick peas and other assorted beans, tea, coffee, soups and canned tomatoes.

鈥淲e greatly need the support,鈥� Murray said.

READ ALSO: Demand growing for food bank in Aldergrove

Sources is also in need of 鈥渞egular volunteers, looking for long-term volunteering as well as businesses interested in doing a one time shift,鈥� Murray added.

Sources 91原创 Food Bank website is and the food bank can be reached at email: foodbank@sourcesbc.ca or phone 604-532-5290.

Jim Calamunce, executive director of the , which also operates distribution centres in 91原创 City and Aldergrove, said its client numbers are 鈥渞eally skyrocketing.鈥�

In November, Calamunce said the food bank was serving 1,000 to 1,150 people every week at their 91原创 and Aldergrove locations, and the numbers are growing, with more than 40 new families registered every month.

Totals for the month show 1,781 family visits and 4,467 individuals served.

鈥淲e just need a lot more of the basics,鈥� Calamunce told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淪oups, canned fruit is a big one, we hardly ever get canned fruit, canned meat, canned fish, we need rice, we need baking supplies [like] flour, oil.鈥�

Online, the food bank issues an appeal for more macaroni, cereal, and pasta.

READ ALSO: Need for healthy meals and food bank support growing

Donors are coming through, Calamunce observed, especially schools and churches.

鈥淭he other day, I picked up 30 boxes from Lynn Fripps Elementary school,鈥� Calamunce commented.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e [schools and churches] really stepping up. They鈥檙e still being very generous with what they give us.鈥�

Both food banks are also serving refugees from Ukraine.

Calamunce said the newcomers are often shocked by the high cost of food in Canada, and become first-time food bank clients as a result. Murray said the refugees are often single-parent families.

鈥淲e鈥檙e registering them weekly,鈥� Murray said.

The 91原创 Food Bank website is and can be reached by email: info@langleyfoodbank.com or phone: 604-533-0671.