Montreal's largest food bank is struggling to meet growing demand as donations drop in the wake of the economic crisis.

Moisson Montréal says food donations have dropped by 20 per cent this year, a dramatic reduction that director Johanne Théroux says she has never experienced in her six years on the job.

"We can never meet all demands, but this year, it's really hard," Théroux told CBC's French-language service. "Never have we seen such a gap between what we can offer and demand."

Théroux is calling on Montreal companies to organize internal food drives to help the food bank depository.

In 2008, the Quebec Association of Food Banks reported that an increasing number of "traditional" families (with two parents) are relying on food banks to make ends meet.

Around 30 per cent of food bank users are two-parent families, up from eight per cent in 2007.