Joel Perry spent 38 years in the insurance business before exchanging his briefcase for keys to one of our 5-ton trucks. ‘Do what you love, and you won’t work a day in your life’ are words Joel lives by every time he comes to work at the Calgary Food Bank to collect food for fellow Calgarians who are experiencing food insecurity.
As 2020 wound down, many of us felt it was all we could do to just hunker down and “get it over with,” but for so many kind and thoughtful people in our city, the opposite was true. The very best of who we are as a community shone brighter than ever this holiday season.
The holiday season is here at the Calgary Food Bank! We’re open and ready to safely serve the increased numbers of clients that need us at this time of year.
When I walked into the church that warm December morning, I was immediately greeted with smiles and welcomes. The gymnasium in the Centre Street Church was bustling with activity. Everyone had a role, and everyone was on a mission: to create full and cheery Christmas hampers for the families and individuals this congregation identified as needing help.
Calgary may be a city of over a million, but the heart of this city remains small town and community focused. When times are tough, Calgarians rally and come together to help their neighbours in need. And this holiday season, individuals, families and businesses came together in a big way to make sure that the holidays were happy for everyone. Whether it’s a tin, a truckload, a monetary donation or an hour of time, Calgarians gave with their hearts.