There are several signs that food insecurity is being felt in our community too.

A survey out of Dalhousie University finds fluctuating food prices make people feel “food insecure”, prompting coupon cutting and the bulk buying of essentials.

The survey finds nearly one-quarter of Canadians are worried about how to pay for groceries.

The Gathering Place Soup Kitchen is seeing an impact too.

Executive Director Dennis Chippa says they’re seeing people more frequently, numbers that usual drop off into fall haven’t done so and numbers that used to decline at the beginning of the month when people may have more money in the bank, isn’t happening either.

“We see all of those things are pointing to signs people are already struggling with paying their bills and we’re only in the fall, were not even into the colder winter months,” he said.

In terms of fluctuating food prices, Chippa says they have a family of 130 some days and the cost has an impact on them too.

Meantime, stats posted on North Bay Food Bank Facebook page show they served 135 households last week.

63 percent were adults with 37 percent children.

There were also 18 new faces.

(With files from The Canadian Press)