Christmas is peak season for food banks in the North Okanagan, and this year they're seeing higher demands at a time when the ongoing postal strike is slowing the flow of donations. 

Melody Bosk, volunteer manager of the Lumby Food Bank, says the demand for Christmas food hampers has doubled this year compared to the past few years.

People can register with the food bank to receive a hamper, which comes with their choice of chicken, turkey or ham, along with frozen vegetables, bread, stuffing, gravy, other fixings, and breakfast for the next day. 

So far there have been 124 applications for Christmas hampers, and that number will continue to grow over the next couple weeks. 

"I think we can manage, I think we've got enough partners that we can pull from if we have to and request more (food), but we're fortunate that we live in the small community that we do," Bosk said. 

She added that the Canada Post strike has "absolutely" led to lower donations this Christmas season, "because we can't get our requests out to some of the bigger places," and many choose to send in donations through Canada Post. In particular, seniors tend to contribute donations via a cheque in the mail, Bosk said. 

"But they can't do that (during the strike). We have online options of course, but not everybody takes advantage of them, not everybody's online."

Bosk said the Lumby Food Bank was expecting donations to run thin after the postal strike began on Nov. 15 and was able to brace for it. She added mailed donations are expected to make their way to the food bank once the postal strike ends, but it's unclear when that will happen, and the food bank's need for donations will persist after Christmas, when stocks have been depleted. 

"We will need those donations even after Christmas because our food supply will be exhausted and our finances will be down," Bosk said. 

She said the best ways to support the food bank during the postal strike are online at  or by visiting the food bank in person at 2134 Shuswap Ave. Turkeys are among the items the food bank is currently in need of. 

Meanwhile, the Armstrong Food Bank has also seen fewer donations this year. Manager Jennifer Palmer says the postal strike has most likely contributed to that, as December is typically the month that sees the most donations come in. She said between 80 and 90 per cent of donations, that sustain food banks for the year, come in during the holiday season.

December is also the busiest month for the food bank in terms of people needing food coming in. 

"I'd say we at least double or sometimes triple our numbers in December," Palmer said of the demand. "It's just busy all around with donations coming in and food going out."

Palmer hopes mailed donations will come to the food bank eventually once the postal strike ends, especially since the demand for food has risen this year compared to past years. 

"We're just seeing a lot more working families coming in," Palmer said. 

She added that in the last couple years, she alone has seen as many as 10 seniors who became food bank clients after their housing costs increased dramatically, some due to so-called "renovictions" in which landlords issue an eviction notice so they can do renovations and increase the rent. 

Donations to the Armstrong Food Bank can be made , or through its website at (select Armstrong Food Bank in the drop-down menu). The food bank also accepts donations in person at 3459 Pleasant Valley Rd.

All Are Family Outreach Society (AAFO), which supports people from Armstrong to Kelowna, has families coming to them which they simply can't help this year due to skyrocketing demand. Founder Clary Lausnes said the demand for food hampers has "jumped through the ceiling" since the second week of November and donations haven't kept pace with the demand. 

"We desperately need pasta sauce, peanut butter, lunch snacks, produce. We normally get enough financial donations in December to last us to around April (but) we may not open in January due to the lack of financial and food donations," Lausnes said. "People who used to sponsor families for years are now coming in as clients."

Lausnes said AAFO is hanging on until Christmas and could use some donations of turkeys to give out. 

People interested in supporting AAFO can call 250-503-4983 or message the team on the All Are Family .