On Saturday morning, Calgary Food Bank volunteers will go door-to-door in the city for the 20th consecutive year to collect non-perishable food donations.
The annual city-wide food drive is the Calgary Food Bank’s biggest of the year, and one of the largest food drives across the country. “We do our best to collect food from every door stop in our city,” said Melissa From, president and CEO of Calgary Food Bank. In a typical year, the September food drive will generate around half a million pounds of food.
Typically held the third weekend in September, the timing is intentional. Back-to-school costs put financial pressure on families, and donations made during the city-wide food drive help sustain the food bank until the holidays.
Earlier this week, volunteers delivered door hangers in various Calgary communities, announcing the upcoming food drive. Those who received door hangers are invited to fill a reusable bag with non-perishable food items, leave the bag in the driveway or in front of the house at 10 a.m. on Saturday and return the door hanger to the handle. Volunteers will pick up donations by 1 p.m.
Additionally, the food bank reminds those donating that while food must be in a bag to be collected, bags will not be returned.
For those who did not receive a door hanger and would like to donate, you can fill any shopping bag or box and bring it to the Calgary Food Bank — located at 5000 11 St. S.E. — between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Saturday, or donate to a Calgary Food Bank box located in select grocery stores any day of the year.
20 years of community action
“For us, it is business as usual,” said From regarding the 20th anniversary of the city-wide food drive. From described the community support and engagement over the past two decades as “phenomenal.”
“Calgary is very much a ‘no one left behind’ mentality and community,” she said.
From acknowledged that recent years have been challenging, with demand for support from the food bank “greater than ever.” She said a food drive like this is important for an average year, but this year it’s “of critical importance to us, given what we’re facing right now.”
The Calgary Food Bank was started 43 years ago, and since then community support has grown. From expressed gratitude to Calgarians for support through the years.
“When folks are struggling, Calgarians step up,” she said.
A hunger-free community is the long-term goal and vision of the food bank, acting as Calgary’s first line of emergency food support for those facing a crisis. It is the city’s most accessible food bank, and thanks to community support, has the capacity to support individuals, families and organizations.
The Calgary Food Bank’s most-needed items right now are pasta, canned pasta sauce, rice, whole grain cereal and diapers.