To mark National Volunteer Week, April 24- 30, we want to celebrate the people who help feed hungry Calgarians all year long. Last year alone, volunteers logged close to 96,500 hours (about 11 years) of time at the Calgary Food Bank.
Right now, we are feeding 1,000 Calgarians a day. Hundreds of hampers are being distributed to neighbours, friends and families who need food support during this incredibly trying time. Volunteers make up half of the workforce in our warehouse; they sort, build and distribute hampers.
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.
To mark National Volunteer Week, we had some one-on-one chats with a few of the people who give back during these difficult times so fellow Calgarians can get the food support they need.
Let’s have a heart-to-heart conversation about what’s really making us happy as we mark another month enduring the Coronavirus Pandemic. In “normal” years the cold winter months have us turning inside and inward but this past year; seclusion has taken on a whole new meaning.