Diapers are not a luxury. They are a critical part of a baby’s life but for parents already struggling to make ends meet, the cost can be overwhelming. This month we look at the importance of helping our most vulnerable during the Bare Bottoms Diaper Drive.
Many of us have done it: Find an unopened box of pasta at the back of the pantry, see that it’s past its best before date, and throw it in the trash or compost to be safe. But is that really necessary? “Best before” and other food labelling terms can cause confusion, and many are surprised to learn that best before dates are simply a guideline, not a rule set in stone.
As we look to the next decade, we can see the food industry changing. Food waste is top-of-mind for consumers, and as a result several food manufacturing companies have made public commitments to reduce operational food waste and large retailers have been introducing apps that encourage customers to buy near-expiring foods at a reduced cost.
Have you ever tried to concentrate when you stomach is rumbling and all you can think about is lunch time? Imagine having to begin each Monday this way. So when hundreds of students in Calgary were identified as chronically hungry, the Calgary Board of Education school-based partnership, Weekends and More, was created ensuring that hungry is not a barrier to learning.
This past year has continued to challenge Calgarians from all sides. There is increasing demand month over month, year over year. The economic upheaval continues to impact so many lives, in so many ways. Social, cultural, and environmental challenges are manifesting in a city that has not seemed to catch a break since 2008’s global financial meltdown and the subsequent 2015 Alberta downturn.