We have introduced a new team of Resource Volunteers to improve awareness of community organizations for the people that we serve! These volunteers will use a questionnaire that is also available on our website to understand someone’s situation and find the best community organizations to support them. The new questionnaire will allow us to be more intentional about the referrals we provide.
The Calgary Food Bank distributes approximately 400 food hampers to households experiencing food insecurity and processes over 500 requests for emergency food hampers each day. How do we manage such a high need for emergency food support?
Mikala Wilson is a Primary Care Dietitian with Mosaic Primary Care Network (PCN) and a former volunteer with the Calgary Food Bank. In the spring of 2020, she volunteered in the food distribution area; a few months later, she was asked to help with Food Hamper Nutrition Analysis. THAT was a changing moment for her and for us.
Calgary is a city of a million-plus people with an expanse of quadrants and communities. And within every neighborhood, there is someone in need. In an effort to create a hunger-free community, we must ensure that Food Hampers are accessible for families and individuals in various neighborhoods.