Veterans Food Bank struggling to stock shelves
Posted Oct 27, 2016 8:01 am.
Last Updated Oct 27, 2016 8:38 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As Calgarians struggle to get by in a tough economy, the trickle down is starting to have a serious effect on some of the city’s most vulnerable and needy.
Empty shelves line the Veterans Food Bank as the organization tries to keep up with demand.
Manager Marie Blackburn says this has been their worst year ever.
“This year has been a real struggle,” she explained. “Our hampers have increased at least 50 per cent. In September of last year we sent out 62 hampers, this September we sent out 114 so our numbers have increased significantly.”
Canned fruit, Jell-O and potatoes, things that accompany a meal, are what they need the most.
“We can use anything that comes in right now because we have between 350 and 400 Christmas hampers to build,” said Blackburn.
“We have never in the history of the food bank spent more than $10,000 in one year to purchase food for the Veterans Food Bank but this year we’ve spent close to $50,000.”
There are few ways to donate.
Food can be dropped off at the Veterans Food Bank or any Legion location, or call and the food bank will come pick up a food box.
The 10th annual Veterans Food Drive runs from Nov. 1 to 15.
Another way to help starts Saturday, with the official launch of the Poppy Fund Campaign.
“A lot of us think that our veterans are just elderly people but we have a lot of veterans coming in now that are coming in with smaller children, a lot of the younger single men are coming in as well and it’s mostly due to the economy and the layoffs,” explained Blackburn.
