While local food banks continue to see a spike in clients, some are providing more than just a basket of food.

The Sharing Place in Orillia provided its clients with a cooking class on how to make the most of what’s in the basket they receive.

The food bank teamed up with Compass Group Canada to offer the one day cooking class.

“We are here to try and teach food banks clients a little bit more self-sufficiency by helping them with food preparation and healthy food adoption,” said Saira Husain with Compass Group Canada.

Andy Robbins is a former food bank user and was selected to be one of a few people to take the course. He now runs three community gardens in Orillia, which generate about one thousand pounds of fresh fruit and vegetables annually.

“One of the issues is that people don’t know how to use the food or don’t have experience cooking or in the kitchen,” he said.

The food bank helps about 1,400 clients every month and says this type of courses can help parents and in turn make life better for their kids.

The cooking class was so successful that Compass Group Canada plans to expand the program to other food banks across the country.