Generous gift helps food bank.

Donations are always welcome, but a recent gift by the Masons to the Pictou County East Food Bank was met with particular gratitude this month.

“The people of Pictou County are extremely generous,” said food bank cotreasurer Lia LeClair as she accepted the sizeable donation from Van MacLeod on behalf of the Pictou County district Masons. “They always seem to come through.”

The Masons donation was for $5,800.

On the food bank’s Facebook page, others are recognized for giving in recent weeks. All are appreciated, LeClair says.

With inflation and supply chain issues driving up food costs, the need is high at food banks throughout the region.

“In the past, I’d say six to eight weeks, you can see it,” LeClair said of the impact inflation has had on demand. “We’ve had a lot more new clients that haven’t been here before.”

But when there is a need, she said people in Pictou County match it with their generosity.

Feed Nova Scotia provides a steady supply of items, and stores such as Sobeys and Starbucks help supplement that with products nearing expiry that they give. Gifts from individuals and organizations

then supply the rest of the need.

“Really, what the people here do is phenomenal,” LeClair said.

Groceries given out by food banks are meant to help tide people over for a few days a month, but LeClair said they try to help whenever possible.

“Especially if there are children, I never say no,” LeClair said. “I couldn’t bear to think that a mother or father has to say to their child, there’s nothing to eat.”

Gifts like the one from the Masons help ensure that doesn’t happen.

“It’s going to feed an awful lot," LeClair said.

MacLeod said he has seen the need in the county firsthand and felt it was a great place for the Masons to donate.

”I thought it was a very worthwhile cause,” he said.

LeClair has found that those who receive the help are grateful and often will give back when they have the opportunity.

“I had a lady last week that things had turned around and she came in with a donation,” she said. “It was just amazing that they would still think of coming back to give something back.”