Greater Trail residents are responding to a call from a local food bank after a record demand on their coffers left shelves empty and volunteers wondering how they would make it through the summer.

The Trail United Church food bank operates every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon where they serve anywhere from 20-70 people.

Following a Times article last Tuesday, donations of “food, funds and time” started flowing in, noted Keith Simmonds, Trail United Church minister.

“We were down to nothing last week,” said volunteer Edna Fisk as she and Jean Mckinnon prepared plates of pastry and coffee for food bank users Tuesday morning.

“The response was fantastic. We're very pleased that people were so generous,” said Mckinnon.

The food bank is thrilled with the response from the community as calls and donations were immediate and are still forthcoming, noted Simmonds.

“After they read the article in the Times, four little girls from Tadanac, three aged nine and an 11-year old, went around with their mom on Ritchie Street and collected five bags of groceries for the food bank. It had a great, positive effect on their lives and on our shelves,” said Simmonds.

Volunteer organizer Eleanor Harper recently returned from San Francisco where she was appalled by the extent of homeless and hungry people on the streets.

“I was so glad to get home to a community where people really do care and come through,” she said.

Local business-owners Rob and Gina Ironmonger of Keystone Appraisals Inc. donated $500 to the food bank and encourage other businesses to follow their lead.

“Nutrition is such an important part of health and keeping your community strong. We don't have an advertising budget, instead we give to the community,” said Gina Ironmonger.

The couple has donated to organizations such as the hospital foundation, SPCA, and women in need and wanted to do something for the food charity.

“We're happy to give it. You have to be blind to go downtown and not see there is a definite need for it,” said Ironmonger.

In addition to new volunteers, the food bank received numerous bags of groceries and fresh produce. It also had over $3,500 donated in the last week including an incredible $2,500 from one very generous but anonymous donor.

The food bank is also supported by local businesses such as Laurel Brost from the Pastry Shop that gives bread and pastry to the cause weekly and Ferraro Foods which donates $25 per week in fresh produce.

While the influx is welcomed and appreciated, it will probably only see them through July and August, suggests Simmonds.

“September is a really hard month for parents with kids, they need money for school supplies,” said Harper.

The food bank workers encourage the community to keep giving as they work in cooperation with other charities such as the Salvation Army and Kate's Kitchen so nothing, not even fresh produce, gets wasted.

For residents like Rod Hurst, the service is a welcomed if only occasional respite.

“It's actually a great service that helps people on lower income. After paying rent some months we only have $200 or $300 a month to live on. It's hard, so we're glad the food bank is here for us,” he said.