Sarah McLachlan makes food bank appeal

McLachlan and philanthropist Alison Lawton were on hand at a Vancouver free barbecue in Oppenheimer Park to help draw attention to a 22-per-cent drop in donations of non-perishable food items compared to 2009.

Giving back is what the season is about, but not enough people are stepping up, McLachlan said.

"Some people forget or feel paralyzed thinking that little gesture is not going to make a difference," McLachlan told CBC News. "But if 100,000 people think that little gesture isn't going to make a difference and don't do anything then that makes a huge impact."

Demand is estimated to be up about 10 per cent from last year.

Tight times cited

The numbers worry food bank administrators, who depend on the Christmas season to provide up to 80 per cent of their annual donations.

The tight economic climate is believed to be a big part of the lower numbers this year, according to Cheryl Carline, CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society.

"We're hoping to get some kind of recovery in 2011 or we will see challenges come summertime, there's no question," said Carline.

McLachlan agreed that tough times mean everybody's cutting back, but it doesn't take much to get donations to meet demand.

"It's such a small but meaningful gesture to be able to take even $5 and get a couple of cans of food," she said. "There's a lot of people and a lot of need, but I think it's our responsibility as human beings to do whatever it is we can."

Cash donations from the public are on par with last year.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank receives no government donations, its website says.

The food bank has extended its drop-off hours at its 1150 Raymur Avenue offices up to Christmas Eve.