Nelson’s Our Daily Bread says need has doubled in first months of 2026
Published 9:18 am Friday, July 24, 2026
Program Coordinator, Tyler Bethune, with Our Daily Bread volunteer Lin Fox. (Contributed)
The food bank, Our Daily Bread, is facing an increase in people seeking out their services
Food insecurity and rising costs throughout the province and Canada, have greatly impacted the demands on food banks. According to Food Banks Canada, in March 2025, there were 2.2 million visits to food banks across the country. This is the highest number to date
At Our Daily Bread, the number of people using their services has doubled between January and May of this year
“People are feeling the effects of inflation, rising food costs and rent costs,” Tyler Bethune, program coordinator for Our Daily Bread, said
Bethune said the majority of people who access their services are from Nelson, but sometimes people come from the whole Central Kootenay area
“On an average day, we serve about 60 or 70 people. But, there was a day last week where we served 99 meals,” he added
These changes have a strain on the organization and Bethune said the demand can often change with the type of weather. Many take shelter on unbearably warm or cold days
This year, the organization is holding a summer fundraiser campaign, the first of its kind
Bethune says the community has helped, but more needs to be done
“It is never quite enough because the demand constantly increases.”
The hot meal program is Monday to Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Community members can receive 22 meals for a donation of $25
“It is a full course meal. A soup, a main course, a fresh salad and coffee and dessert,” Bethune said
Each Thursday, the organization also provides food distribution from 9 to 11 a.m
Items include canned goods, frozen food, pet food donated from the BC SPCA and hygiene products, such as pads or tampons and family care products
Bethune is looking for more support
“I am hoping to reach out to city council sometime and gain support from local organizations. That is what I would like to see.”
