As its largest annual fundraiser approaches on December 5, local food bank Bouffe Pontiac is dealing with a heavier demand and larger expenses than in years previous.
Bouffe’s Director Kim Laroche explained that the amount of clients that they serve had spiked in the last few years. She said that unlike in the past, they were increasingly serving minimum-wage workers who were overwhelmed by the increased cost of housing and essentials.
Laroche explained that their annual budget for food purchases had exploded from roughly $43,000 in 2020 to $128,000 in 2023.
Laroche also gave the some details about their annual “guignolée”, or food drive, which will take place at major intersections throughout the region on December 5 from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.
