The Central Okanagan Food Bank has seen soaring demand as families are squeezed by inflation.

Over 1,000 new clients have accessed the food bank over the last five months.

The food bank says roughly 212 new individuals visit every month.

"This has been extremely busy for us this time of year simply because of inflation and what has happed over the last five months," said Central Okanagan Food Bank CEO Trevor Moss.

"Everyone in the community knows why that is... because of the cost of food, the cost of gas and so these are things that are really impacting people and unfortunately people right now are hungry in our community."

Moss says their food supply is starting to run low.

As a result, the food bank is holding its community Thanksgiving food drive, starting Tuesday.

Paper bags are being distributed to home in Kelowna and West Kelowna over the next few days. Volunteers will then collect those filled bags.

Baby formula and meat are some of the most needed items.

The food bank is also hoping more volunteers will step up during their busy season.

"Volunteers right now is a huge need for us. Our summer students have gone back to school and we do need volunteers from Monday to Friday and even own Saturdays and so if people are interested we would gladly accept your help. You can pick any shift you want. It could be a two-hour shift, it could be once a month, it could be once a week," Moss added.

To volunteer and for more information, click here.