The COVID-19 pandemic is having a significant impact on Sarnia's Inn of the Good Shepherd.
Executive Director Myles Vanni said within 24 hours of the announcement closing schools, the CycloneAid food drive and Empty Bowls fundraiser were both cancelled.
He said it's likely the CANstruction event next month will be cancelled as well. That's a loss of up to $250,000 in food and money for the Inn.
Vanni said they also expect to see higher demand for help with groceries and bills.
"We've already got calls from people who said I've just been laid off, I just make it paycheck to paycheck and now I have nothing, I'm going to need help from the Inn and these are people we haven't helped in the past," said Vanni. "We know that's going to be an issue, even though EI has said we're going to waive the one-week penalty, I'm sure they're going to be flooded. And it will still be two or three or four weeks before somebody sees a payment."
Vanni said the Inn has a pandemic protocol in place and is practicing social distancing.
"People rely on us for food, for that daily meal, for food for the week, we don't have an option to close," he said. "Our concern is are we going to have the resources, the food, to be able to stay open when we've lost so much."
Daily meals and food bank hampers are now pre-packaged to go.
On average, about 1,850 people use the food bank every month.
Donations are still being accepted at area grocery stores and at the Inn on John Street.
Financial donations can be made online at https://www.theinnsarnia.ca/.