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Donations have been pouring into a community food pantry set up in Fairfield a couple of weeks ago.

Caitlin Boudreau, a registered dietitian who works with Cool Aid’s community health centre, set up the pantry outside the Fairfield community centre with help from the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association and grant funding from the City of Victoria.

Boudreau’s neighbour, contractor Reece Tibbitts, built the structure, which is modeled after the free little libraries dotted around Victoria that invite residents to take a book and leave a book.

Boudreau is hoping people who have something to spare will leave non-perishable food items, while those in need will find some help filling their cupboards. Particularly useful are peanut or nut butters, canned fish, dried or canned beans, rice, pasta, oats, baby formula and baby food.

“It’s one of those funny things, you know, ideally, we wouldn’t actually need it,” she said. “So it’s kind of like I feel mixed about it. But the goal is really to bring community together to kind of bring about more awareness of food insecurity.”

About half a million British Columbians, or one in 10 households, struggle to afford enough food to feed themselves adequately, according to a 2016 report prepared for the B.C. Centre for Disease Control and the Provincial Health Services Authority.

About one third of food banks in Canada have reported a surge in demand for help during the pandemic, says a report by Food Banks Canada, and many worry the need will increase further when pandemic-related financial supports come to an end.

Despite Fairfield’s reputation for being fairly well-off, there are people in need in the community, Boudreau said. She hopes the pantry’s proximity to Sir James Douglas Elementary will inspire children to help and provide a meaningful way for them to contribute to their community.

Boudreau has been keeping an eye on the pantry to make sure it’s well stocked and said she has been impressed with the generosity of the community.

Canned goods have spilled out of the little pantry, and someone brought a basket to contain the overflow. She expected donations to start off strong and hopes the neighbourhood will keep up their generosity after the holidays.

“The key to its success is that it be kind of driven by the community,” she said.

regan-elliott@timescolonist.com