Food bank usage is up across Canada and the Central Okanagan is no exception to the national trend.

The number of people relying on food banks in Kelowna and West Kelowna has tripled since 2019, compared to a doubling in demand nation-wide.

And 44 per cent of food bank users in the Central Okanagan are children, compared to 33 per cent across Canada.

Directors of the Central Okanagan Food Bank released those statistics this week as part of an appeal for more donations heading toward Christmas.

“Monetary donations, no matter the size, make the biggest impact on our support for the community,” says Trina Speiser, the food bank’s director of development. “Our buying power allows us to buy $3 worth of food for every $1 donated, so this is absolutely the best way to get food to those who ne

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