Last week, the shelves at Victoria’s largest food bank came perilously close to being empty.

“We are barely keeping our heads above water,” Mustard Seed food bank executive director Brent Palmer said.

The food bank’s caseload has almost doubled between October and November, he noted. Last month 1,600 food hampers were handed out. In the first two weeks of November, 1,550 food hampers went out the Mustard Seed’s doors. “We’re running close to empty,” Palmer said.

Black Press, publisher of the Victoria News and other community papers in the region, is aiming to raise $10,000 to be split between aid programs operated by the Mustard Seed, Victoria Women’s Transition House and CFAX radio’s Santa Anonymous.

This month the newspaper group, with the help of various companies and schools, started collecting coins as part of its annual Pennies for Presents fundraiser. The B.C. Ministry of Labour has jumped aboard, as have schools throughout the region, including Margaret Jenkins and David Cameron elementaries.

Last year, 20 coin drop-off sites around Victoria raised $5,700 toward the drive. Due to a growing need in the community this year, Black Press and its partners have raised the bar, said Pennies co-ordinator Bruce Hogarth.

“We are encouraged to have schools participating this year,” he said. “We hope more will join.”

Participating schools are eligible for prizes for their libraries. The fundraiser runs until Dec. 15 and the News’ downtown headquarters is currently accepting donations of change at 818 Broughton St.

For more information please call Hogarth at 250-381-3633 ext. 288. Schools interested in pursuing a Pennies campaign can contact Rebecca Aldous at 250-381-3484 ext. 223.

raldous@vicnews.com