The 2020 Festive Food Days got off to a record-breaking start, giving out 337 bags of groceries on the first day. It was a number that continued to grow over the four weeks the program operated in December.

Andrew Creighton is the community relations manager for the Nelson Community Food Centre. He said they gave out around 1,400 bags of groceries in total, and saw a 50 percent increase in both need and donations. 

He called 2020 a bizarre year, with factors like unstable housing and employment bringing new people to the Nelson Good Food Bank.

Listen to the story by Kootney Morning reporter Keili Bartlett here: