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Annual ReportThe Calgary Food Bank annual report highlights the activities, achievements and impact over the past year.
BOARD CHAIR Message
AMY LEONG
This past year has been a historic one with the continued global pandemic and the ongoing struggle faced by every citizen of the world. Here at home, the Calgary Food Bank did not experience any setbacks but instead rose to the challenge.
Read more.
PRESIDENT AND CEO message
JAMES MCARA
Thanks to Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians, our journey through the pandemic is a journey together. We are able to meet the ever-changing needs for food security. We are not in this alone — we are in this together. Read more.
Year in review
The highlights
Emergency Food Hampers
Hampers for the Homeless
Weekends and More
Welcome Home
Food Share
Food Rescue
Food Link
The Gift of time
Emergency Food hamper Program
We provide quality food with compassion, dignity, efficiency, and respect to those facing hunger.
The Emergency Food Hamper Program has seen a staggering 30% increase in demand for food support this year. What we typically see in a year, such as the end of seasonal jobs or increased living costs in the winter, is now coupled with continued restrictions and precarious employment. Financial supports like the Canada Emergency Response Benefit and Employment Insurance have waned, and we continued to see individuals laid off due to the pandemic and still have not found work. The majority (62%) of clients received three or less hampers this year. Notably, only 5% of clients received more than 12 hampers in the 12-month period, indicating that most demand continues to come from a population that requires immediate and temporary assistance versus long-term food support.
- Families (57%) 57%
- Individuals (43%) 43%
- Children (37%) 37%
- Single Parents (14%) 14%
- Working (22%) 22%
hampers distributed a day
%
increase from last year
calls answered for support
emergency food hampers distributed
Food rescue and food share
Discovering, recovering and redirecting food, eliminating waste and getting the food to where it needs to be.
Potatoes are a staple in our hampers. We wouldn’t be able to provide our clients with scrumptious spuds without the donations from local farmers. Last year Thomas Fresh, Bassano Growers, and Kampers Farm Fresh collectively donated almost 785,000 pounds of potatoes.
More than potatoes! From tomatoes, to apples, to carrots, and so much more, 36 farmers donated nearly 225,000 pounds of other vegetables.
The Creston Valley Gleaners Society runs a small but critical food bank in the quaint BC town. Bobbi-Jo Faye is Gleaner’s Food Services Coordinator, and she requests food support every few months to supplement their hampers and other food and nutrition programs. “It’s like Christmas when the Calgary Food Bank truck arrives. We never know exactly what we’ll get, but it’s always amazing. You supply stuff we don’t normally receive, and we are able to direct the food to people we might not normally be able to support. Ethnic foods, ‘fun foods’ such as taco kits and chunky soups find their way into hungry tummies in the Creston Valley area thanks to you,” says Bobbi-Jo.
Gary Tether is Board Co-Chair of the Iyahrhe Nakoda Food Bank Society that serves the Stoney Nakoda Nation west of Calgary. He says their demand for food support is very high, and the Food Share Program is
a significant contributor of food. Gary says, “We are happy to take everything we are sent, from canned vegetables, fruit, meat, pasta, to peanut butter. I don’t think we’d be able to operate without this as it
would be impossible to fill the need out here without your help.”
VOLUNTEERISM
Our community comes together to help people in crisis, Every contribution of time makes an impact.
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: COLLEEN LARSON
Colleen is a bubbly, outgoing, and enthusiastic mom of three who works in the distribution area efficiently packing grocery carts with healthy food. She says there is a stark difference in the volunteer experience now compared to pre-pandemic times. “Before the pandemic, I’d come home dog-tired after a very busy three-hour shift. We helped bag food for clients, and get it out to their cars, there were often hugs, stories shared, and we even got to hold babies. Now, we simply work one day a week for two and a half hours loading carts for distribution. Not being able to interact a the clients is tough but the highlight is seeing and working with my fellow volunteers,” Colleen said, affectionately referring to her group as “The A Team”. One of Colleen’s most poignant memories as a volunteer was meeting an elderly couple who needed food support. “I can still picture them – an impeccably dressed lovely couple, they could have been my Mom and Dad,” Colleen explained. It struck her that even though we may not know people’s circumstances, that’s okay. It matters that anyone in a crisis knows they can come here for help.
different volunteer roles
Volunteer Hours
Volunteer Groups a year
%
of our workforce are volunteers
Working Together
Partnering with others to address the root causes of food insecurity, we are one part of a bigger solution.
Le Tablée des Chef’s, a Quebec-based charitable organization, launched The Solidarity Kitchens initiative that united the efforts of food industry and chefs in fighting food insecurity especially during times of COVID-19. In the spring of 2021, they organized the catering team at the Calgary Stampede to prepare 100,000 nourishing meals that were then distributed to our clients, six Food Share partners, and 12 Food Link organizations.
“As a community organization, we are so proud to be able to support those in need through this incredible initiative while also being provided the opportunity to mobilize our team back to work.”
– Derek Dale, Executive Chef, Calgary Stampede.
In cooperation with the network of food banks across the country, Food Banks Canada is making sure kids receive healthy food packs during the summer. Each pack contains a variety of healthy, kid-friendly foods including apples, oranges and peaches. This past summer we received 1,400 After the Bell packs that were distributed to summer programs at 18 Calgary Catholic Schools, Trellis-Penbrooke Club, Trellis-Forest Lawn Club and the Somali Canadian Society of Calgary.
“Our families were so happy with the After the Bell kits, and the kids devoured the fresh fruit! I can’t tell you how happy we are to have this partnership; it benefits our kids and families so much!”
– Erin Henriksen-Ireland, Manager at Trellis
Community
Every contribution of food, funds, and time makes an impact to help people in crisis.
How we illustrate the impact community makes toward relieving hunger today can be best described as the ripple effect of tossing a pebble in a pond. Even the smallest pebble creates lasting ripples. Each circle that ripples out from the stone’s drop to the farthest circle is just how far-reaching the effect is. The impact of giving acts the same way – every gesture, every dollar, every food item donated – ripples out into the community, making a profound and lasting impact.
964 events raised $3.5 Million and 1.5 Million pounds of food.
We are community owned and community supported, meaning that all of our donations come directly from generous individuals, groups, and businesses. The Community Engagement team fosters and supports the Calgary community with opportunities to make an impact in varied and many ways.
Food industry organizations
individuals
organizations
COMMUNITY EVENTS
FOUNDATIONS
PArtnering with others to address root cause
Expand our role as a catalyst in inspiring, engaging, and empowering community to build a food-secure future.
Weekends and More Program
The Weekends and More Program makes sure kids get the nutritious food they need on the weekends to stay healthy and learning. The program was suspended at the beginning of the pandemic but resumed in September 2020. Distribution continued through the school year amidst the changing COVID-19 restrictions and the volatility in demand due to fluctuating student attendance.
“Food security is a growing problem, and students look forward to receiving their bags weekly. Families are appreciative as well, knowing that kids have access to food.”
– Ms. Payal Tuli, Principal Banting and Best School
Hampers For the Homeless program
Food is a catalyst to supporting anyone in need, and the Hampers for the Homeless Program gives organizations that serve those experiencing homelessness a starting point for a conversation. Bags with one or two days of ready-to-eat, shelf-stable food provides the short-term relief of hunger. Twelve amazing partner organizations do the rest.
“Our clients are some of the most vulnerable in the city. Most are homeless, and the food we provide from the Calgary Food Bank may be the only food they get in a day. ”
– Safeworks, Partner Organization
Welcome home program
Partner organizations are addressing the needs of those transitioning into secure housing and ensuring there is access to support, and addressing situations that may create food insecurity. The Welcome Home Program takes care of the initial costs of food and other essentials. This helps increase the best chances for people to remain in and maintain stable housing
“I’m going to get real; what really makes a house a home is when the cupboards are filled with supplies and staples and there’s food in the fridge. We appreciate the friendship and collaboration we have with the Calgary Food Bank; we truly are in this together.“
– Sundae Nordin, Community Kitchen CEO
Food Link Program
Many organizations in and around Calgary connect with their clients through food to help them out of crisis and towards self-sufficiency. To help with their efforts, our Food Link Program provides qualified organizations with food and supplies to prepare meals and snacks for their clients. They can then focus their time and resources on important program delivery instead of worrying about sourcing food.
“By bringing our clients together and sharing a meal, we are able to establish community development opportunities. It has decreased social isolation and the mental health struggles associated with that.”
– Highbanks Society, Partner Organization
What’s new at the Food Bank
We are growing to better serve Calgarians!
Feeding people is our priority, and to ensure we are doing our best to serve clients and the community, we are always looking to improve. Part of our evaluations included the stark truth that demand for emergency food support has never been higher, nor is it forecasted to stop. We have been limited in our capacity for all processes and have known for some time that to continue to meet the historically high and ever-growing demand, we would have to expand.
To begin, we acquired additional space at 5020 12A Street SE, where some staff and administrative functions relocated. Renovations at the main food bank building at 5000 11 Street SE commenced in the summer of 2021 while remaining the hub for clients, program partners, volunteers, and food donors.
With our strong dedication to the community and helping our fellow Calgarians, clients continue to receive nutritious food for every family member — the core pillar of our organization.
Fiscal year September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021
Financial Snapshot
Funds Donated
$19.9 Million
- Personal (47%) 47%
- Corporations (22%) 22%
- Foundations (21%) 21%
- Communities (10%) 10%
VALUE OF FOOD Donated
$34.7 Million
- Gleaning (67%) 67%
- Community Donation Bins (13%) 13%
- Food Drives (10%) 10%
- Other (6%) 6%
- Farms (4%) 4%
PROGRAM INVESTMENT
$44.4 Million
- Emergency Food Hampers $35.2M (79.27%) 79.27%
- Food Link $3.6M (8.10%) 8.10%
- Food Share $3.5M (7.93%) 7.93%
- Hampers for the Homeless $1.2M (2.70%) 2.70%
- Weekends and More $426,464 (.96%) .96%
- Purchasing Power $232,875 (.52%) .52%
- Welcome Home $227,374 (.51%) .51%
The impact of your donations
Previous Annual Reports
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AMY LEONG
At the same time, when we are relieving hunger for hundreds today, we are moving towards the future. We continue to use our data to inform and navigate our decisions. We take in feedback, learnings, and new information. We engage our stakeholders and collaborate with like-minded organizations to combat poverty, advocate for policy change, and address root causes. It takes time to make meaningful and systemic impacts as we continue to supply real-time data and testimony on the effects of food insecurity to those change-makers.
You can’t get anywhere if you don’t have a plan so we continue to refine the strategic roadmap to provide direction to our teams and community alike. As we look to the future and embark on our 40th year of food bank operations, we will continue to vision a hunger-free community while listening to and collaborating with leaders in hope that we do not have to see another 40th anniversary.
JAMES MCARA
Despite the current confluence of events, we still took time to plan our future. We are taking action in partnerships with key organizations, strengthening and using our voice with greater conviction and advocating for change supported by real-world experience and data, always focused on root causes and food security. Change does not happen overnight, but the combination of an economic crisis and a global pandemic has brought greater awareness to the need for domestic food security and recognition for those who work tirelessly to ensure it for others.
Food banks are no longer absent from disaster management and planning, and we are at the table to ensure basic needs are not forgotten. The future is uncertain and often scary, but there is so much opportunity and that is invigorating. Regardless of the challenges that come with uncertainty, we will embrace the opportunity to address those core issues that have held us back. Thanks to an amazing community, we can help others without delay. Our commitment is to continue to build on what works and let go of the antiquated. We will also remember to value ideas and actions that got us to where we are today, always remembering that our goal is to live in a community that does not need a food bank.
Thanks to Calgarians, Albertans and Canadians, our journey through the pandemic is a journey together. We are able to meet the ever-changing needs for food security. We are not in this alone — we are in this together.