Summer may be the season of plenty for farmers and gardeners, but stores at the Abbotsford Community Services Food Bank are withering.

Roberta Hayter, floor supervisor with the food bank, said they are running out of some important basics.

“We’ve run out of pasta for a month now,” Hayter said.

The food bank is also low on essentials such as cans of tuna, tomato sauce, canned vegetables, beans, and powdered milk.

“That is always important, especially for children because we can give out the cereal, but without the milk ...”

Most packaged and canned food is donated in the fall and at Christmas, so supplies are traditionally low in the summer. But the problem this year has been compounded by the economic recession, which radically drove up the number of people applying to the food bank, particularly in February and March.

“It was people working who lost their jobs,” said Hayter. “It was quite scary for that two months, because rather than two to three new families a week, we were getting two or three new families a day.”

Although the numbers plateaued in mid-April, the food bank must provide for a larger number of people.

And that, said Hayter, means smaller food hampers.

“We only have so much, and we’re giving out more,” she said.

And then there is the persistent problem of not having enough formula for mothers with infants.

“We need formula, all kinds of formula – milk and soya-based. It’s so expensive so we don’t get much,” she said. “It’s frustrating when you have a new mom in, and you don’t have anything to give her.”

There is one bonus about the summer.

“The good part of the summer is all the fresh fruit and produce. People are bringing in lots of home produce which is lovely. We’re not hurting for that, but we’re certainly willing to take more.”

She said the best thing residents can do to help out the food bank is to just get some extra items when they go to the store.

“If people, as they shopped, bought a package of spaghetti and put it in our bin. Most of the big grocery stores have drop-off bins where people can put stuff.”

The food bank is located at 33914 Essendene Ave. and can be reached at 604-859-5749.