Together, we fight hunger and its root causes, because no one should go hungry.
Through our Emergency Food Hamper Program we are ensuring that Calgarians are able to access food during this difficult time. We know Calgarians, who were all ready struggling through tough economic times, will need increased food support as the city experiences unprecedented closures due to the COVID-19 virus.
Our immediate focus is meeting urgent needs now and for the weeks to come. Demand is still at an all-time high, with an average of 11% increase every month (compared to previous year). We distribute between 6,000 – 8,000 hampers per month, representing more than 16,000 lives.
We are truly community owned and community supported. We know that Calgarians are struggling in light of the ever evolving COVID-19 situation and thanks to you, we will continue to ensure that no one goes hungry.
Thank you for choosing to make a difference in the lives of many.
Our Vision
A hunger-free community.
Our Mission
Together, we fight hunger and its root causes because no one should go hungry.
Our Values
Client-centricity: We provide quality food with compassion, dignity, efficiency, and respect. We build resiliency in clients through the sharing of food. We center our attention on our clients’ experiences, feedback, and needs so that our clients are treated with dignity and respect.
Community: Our community comes together to help people in crisis. Our community’s contributions of food, funds, and time are our primary resources. Every contribution makes an impact.
Clarity: All stakeholders understand their roles and how they help us meet our vision and mission. We are effective, transparent, and accountable stewards of our community’s resources.
Collaboration: We partner with others to address the root causes of food insecurity. We are one important part of a bigger solution.
The Calgary Food Bank is the city’s main charitable food hub and the first line of support for anyone facing a food emergency. Addressing the food is our first step in triaging their emergency, then we make critical connections for them with our community partners and their programs. Our relationships in the community and food support to hundreds of other agencies means we can work collaboratively towards solving the problem of food insecurity in Calgary.
Fast Facts (Fiscal year September 1, 2019 to August 31, 2020)
Emergency Hamper Program
This program is at the core of our mission and what we do every day. We provide more than a week’s worth of nutritious food to families and individuals who are struggling. Another critical part of the program is to help clients build connections and address the root causes of their food insecurity by giving them referrals to other community services.
Welcome Home Program
Working in collaboration with the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary, Welcome Home hampers are distributed with essential items to establish a new household. They provide pantry staples, cleaning supplies, and hygiene items to individuals and families transitioning into housing after experiencing homelessness. By working with agencies who are addressing the needs of those transitioning into secure housing, they are able to ensure there is access to support and address situations that may create food insecurity.
Hampers for the Homeless Program
Food is a catalyst to supporting anyone in need, and this hamper program gives the qualified agencies who serve the homeless population a starting point for conversation with those in crisis. Hampers provide short-term relief of hunger with easy to open, ready to eat, shelf stable food for one to two days. A bulk food option is also available for agencies wanting to customize content for their clients.
Weekends and More Program
When hundreds of students were identified as chronically hungry, we partnered with the Calgary Board of Education to create the Weekends and More Program. By providing hampers to participating schools, teachers and staff can support students who are struggling with access to nutritious food on weekends. The hampers contain two days’ worth of easy to prepare meals.
Food Link
Food Link provides quality bulk food and supplies to charitable organizations in Calgary and area so they can focus their resources on program development and delivery. Food is a great connector and many of these organizations connect with clients over meals and snacks. We work closely with organizations that address the root causes of food insecurity.
Food Movement
Food rescue is the process of gleaning viable food so that it is not going to waste. Instead it’s redirected to support local communities. We directly collect from food industry and redirect food locally, provincially and even nationally. We are considered a critical food distribution hub and closely work with food industry to ensure food is delivered where it is needed most.
Volunteer
Volunteers provided more than 60% of the hours needed to keep the food moving. That equates to 151,080 hours to help make our organization run. From youth to seniors, weekly, daily; volunteers fuel this organization. Volunteers are our lifeblood. Volunteers are essential to greet, chat, sort, guide, encourage, build, engage, report and so much more. Individuals, families and groups are all welcome! Visit our website to find your volunteer opportunity, or phone 403-253-2059 Ext.2.
Donate Food
Help create a healthy meal by donating our most needed items. You can donate while you grocery shop. There are non-perishable donation bins at most major grocery stores in Calgary.
Donate Funds
We are community owned, community supported. It takes community action to provide healthy and nutritious food support, to help one family, one person at a time. When you make a gift to the Calgary Food Bank every $1 donated equals $5 worth of food that can be distributed.
Attend an event or host your own
From community food drives to holiday themed fundraisers to creating structures from food, we have it all. Attend one of our many events through out the year that support the work we do. Or get creative and host your own event to help feed Calgarians who are struggling!