Marissa Lentz-McGrath, Local Journalism Initiative, TimminsToday.com

COCHRANE — After two consecutive years of record-breaking demand, the Cochrane Food Bank is cautiously optimistic that 2026 could mark the first signs of stabilization.

From January through June, the food bank served 1,961 individuals across 1,029 households, according to manager Ardis Proulx-Chedore. While there are still six months left in the year, she said the numbers are tracking below 2025, when the organization served 5,078 people.

“If we’re lucky, if things keep up the way they’re going, we might be either the same or less than last year,” Proulx-Chedore told TimminsToday.

“But that really depends on the trends each month because there could be something that happens in August, there could be something that happens in September that changes it.”

She said increased government benefits, including higher Canada Child Benefit payments, appear to be easing some pressure on families.

“When things like that happen, we notice the trend that people don’t have to depend on us as much because they’re getting that subsidy somewhere else,” she said.

SEE: Cochrane declares food insecurity emergency as food bank use soars

The food bank has also seen significant changes in how people access its services.

Emergency food kit requests have dropped dramatically, with just 55 distributed during the first six months of the year compared with 586 throughout all of 2025. Proulx-Chedore attributes much of that decline to the community pantry, which allows people to pick up food anonymously without having to register through the food bank.

Housing remains the biggest challenge

Despite signs of stabilization, Proulx-Chedore said the reasons people need the food bank haven’t changed.

Housing remains the largest driver of food insecurity.

She said many clients are employed but are spending so much on rent or temporary accommodations that little money remains for groceries.

“I know one little family that’s paying $2,800 a month for one room,” she said, referring to families living long-term in motel-style accommodations because no permanent housing is available.

“They have jobs … but there’s no alternative.”

Seniors are another growing concern.

Proulx-Chedore said many older residents are using much of their fixed income to pay rising property taxes and utility bills, leaving little money for food.

“We really just try to make sure that they’re staying healthy and not just trying to worry about that place to live and making sure that bill is paid,” she said.

While the majority of clients continue to be long-term users, she said many workers affected by the Rockshield Engineered Wood Products plant closure have found new employment and now return to the food bank as volunteers or donors.

“They needed us,” she said. “Then they come back and they’re grateful for the little bit of help that they had.”

SEE: Cochrane ‘looking tragedy in the eye’, turning it into opportunity after mill fire
RELATED: Inflation, job losses drive massive usage increase at Cochrane Food Bank

New programs beginning to pay off

Proulx-Chedore believes several new initiatives are helping reduce reliance on emergency food assistance.

Earlier this year, the food bank introduced cooking and budgeting classes designed to help people stretch their grocery dollars while making better use of available food.

The classes have attracted everyone from seniors to families and children.

“We’ve noticed a small decrease in usership,” she said.

“If we can continue the trend where we have less and less people depending on the food bank, that’s a sign that we’re doing something in the right direction.”

The organization has also launched a digital client card system that speeds up check-ins while helping preserve client privacy.

Instead of repeatedly providing identification and personal information, returning clients can now scan a card and answer security questions before receiving service.

Meanwhile, the expanded food bank building that opened earlier this year continues to improve operations.

SEE: Cochrane Food Bank begins $500K expansion to double its space
RELATED: Expanded Cochrane Food Bank becomes regional hub for northern communities

Proulx-Chedore said the additional space has allowed the organization to increase food reclamation from grocery stores and restaurants, expand its inventory of specialty dietary foods such as gluten-free and diabetic-friendly products, and prepare to move educational programming into the building later this year.

The food bank has also expanded its regional reach, recently resuming service to Cobalt and preparing to support Fauquier-Strickland while continuing to assist northern communities when needed.

Looking ahead to the fall, Proulx-Chedore said donations of food, money and volunteer time remain essential.

“We still have six months of the year, and who knows what that’s going to bring,” she said.

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