Events
City-Wide Food DriveFor one week every September over 8,000 volunteers deliver hundreds of thousands of donation bags to the front doors of homes across the city.
City-Wide Food Drive
Coming to a door step near you in September
This year’s City-Wide Food Drive took place on Saturday, September 18. We were very grateful we were still able to have the food drive with COVID safety protocols in place and the approval of AHS. As we planned for this year’s food drive, we worked closely with AHS to ensure that we continued to do our part in maintaining the health and safety of the volunteers, staff and community during the food drive.
The City-Wide Food Drive takes place during a very important time of year for the Food Bank. As we head into the winter months the number of Calgarians visiting the food bank increases. The collection of much needed food and funds ensures that clients have the food they need through the fall and start of winter.
Have you ever wondered how the City-Wide Food Drive works?
For one week every September over 8,000 volunteers deliver hundreds of thousands of donation bags to the front doors of homes across the city. Generous Calgarians, like you, then fill those bags with healthy, nutritional, and much needed non-perishable food and leave the bag on your driveway. Those same volunteers then pick up your donations and bring them back to the Food Bank to be sorted and distributed to Calgarians.
We are incredibly grateful for the volunteers that come together each year for the City-Wide Food Drive. We could not do it without them!
How it works
Food drive details
- Volunteers deliver food drive bags to neighbourhoods across Calgary.
- The bags are filled with non-perishable food items.
- The donation bag is placed on doorsteps, or in a visible place from the street the morning of the food drive.
- Volunteers pick up the bags between 10 am and 1 pm.
keeping the community safe
COVID-19 protocols
We worked closely with AHS to develop safety protocols and following all recommendations to ensure the health and safety of the community.
- Volunteers had access to masks, gloves and hand sanitizer while they were delivering and picking up the food drive bags.
- Volunteers were instructed to maintain the recommended 2 meter social distancing rule while volunteering.
- Volunteers delivering and picking up the bags were recommended to be part of the same family/cohort pod.
- Volunteers were recommended to take the AHS Self Assessment prior to volunteering.
Did You know?
2021 Fast Facts
volunteers
bags delivered
pounds of food
funds raised ($)
Thank You
Our Sponsors
What you need to know
Frequently Asked Questions
What are your COVID-19 safety protocols?
We have approval from Alberta Health Services (AHS) to continue with the City Wide Food Drive this year and are working closely with them to develop safety protocols and following all recommendations to ensure the health and safety of the community for the food drive.
Volunteers will have access to masks, gloves and hand sanitizer and will be delivering and picking up the bags in their family/cohort pods. Before volunteering we are recommending each person take the AHS Self assessment.
The Calgary Food Bank will continue to follow safety protocols with collected food, having it isolated for a minimum of 48 hours.
Food safety and COVID-19 – Government of Canada
Scientists and food safety authorities around the world are closely monitoring the spread of COVID-19. There is no evidence to suggest that food is a likely source or route of transmission of the virus. At this time, there have been no reported cases of food or food packaging being associated with the transmission of COVID-19.
How do I participate?
Bags will be delivered to single family homes across the City of Calgary from September 13 to 17, 2021. Look for your bag and fill it with non-perishable food items. Place the bag in a visible location on your front step or front walk on September 18, 2021 by 10 am. A volunteer will pick up your bag on Saturday, September 18 between 10 am and 1 pm.
Can I donate funds instead of food?
Yes! Should you wish to make an online donation towards the City-Wide Food Drive, you can click “Donate” in the menu which will take you to our online donation form. If you wish to mail a cheque, they can be made out to Calgary Food Bank and mailed to 5000 11 St SE, Calgary AB, T2H 2Y5.
What time will my bag be picked up?
Place the bag in a visible location on your front step or front walk on Saturday, September 18, 2021 by 10 am. A volunteer will pick up your bag between 10 am and 1 pm.
*Volunteers will not ring your door bell.
My bag wasn’t picked up. What should I do?
Due to the large scale of the Food Drive, donations are occasionally missed – but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need or want your donation! If your bag is missed, please call or text your address to 587-316-1623 between 1 and 4 pm on Saturday, September 18, 2021. Leave your bag out, and a volunteer will pick your bag up in the evening.
*Please note the phone line will be closed at 4 pm.
I didn’t receive a Food Drive bag. Can I still participate?
Absolutely! If you live in an apartment, condominium or multi family home and don’t receive a Food Drive bag you can still participate in the City-Wide Food Drive. You can fill any shopping bag or a box and bring it to the Calgary Food Bank at 5000 11 St SE between noon and 5 pm on Saturday, September 18, 2021.
What can I put in the bag?
Please put non-perishable foods such as canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned meat, jars of baby food, etc. Please do not donate food items that may spoil such as fresh meats or fresh produce as it may be a few days before your donation is sorted and the food will not be able to be used. Visit our wish list to see our most needed items.
The phone line was closed when I called. Now what can I do?
The call centre is open until 4 pm, but you may not have noticed that your bag wasn’t picked up until after 4 pm. Due to the large scale of the Food Drive, donations are occasionally missed – but that doesn’t mean that we don’t need or want your donation! If you are able to, please take your donation to the Calgary Food Bank donation bin at your local grocery store and it will be picked up by the Calgary Food Bank.
What if I received a bag but don't want to participate?
We apologize for any inconvenience that the donation bag may have caused. The bag is 100% compostable so it may be put into your green compost bin.
City-Wide Food Drive
Did you know?
In 2008, Calgary held the Guinness Book of World Records status for the ‘largest food drive in 24 hours – single location’ with a total 511,102 pounds of food. The title was taken in 2011 and is currently being held by the North Carolina School of Science & Mathematics in Durham, NC, USA with 559,885 pounds. We tried again in 2014 for the food drive’s 10 anniversary and collected 489,570 pounds of food.