Calgary Food Bank demand remains high, but more manageable in 2017

While the Calgary Food Bank is still pumping out 5,000 hampers a month for its clients, life is a bit more manageable for staff.

During this quarter last year, the bank was seeing client demand increases of 24 per cent every single month.

Communications Manager Shawna Ogston said this year, they’ve levelled off.

“We’ve seen in the last few months between a three and four per cent increase in client demand, which is a lot more manageable,” she said.

That allows staff to plan easier, including organizing volunteers and food procurement.

“At least we’re able to breathe a little bit more and make sure that we can meet the needs,” she said.

But Ogston mentioned those needs are still extremely high.

“We haven’t gone down to pre-recession levels, we haven’t even gone down to post-recession 2008 levels,” she said.

Ogston said people usually use up their resources a few years into a recession and if some crisis occurs, such as a major car repair or a family member getting sick in their home and can’t work, that can be the tipping point for having to go to the bank.

“Unfortunately, we are still seeing new clients,” she said.

While levels have levelled off, demand doesn’t usually reduce significantly after hitting a new peak.

“We don’t anticipate to say in a year’s time, oh now we’re only giving out 2,000 hampers a month,” she said.

As for client morale, Ogston said there’s lots of mixed emotions and many talk about having to swallow their pride to come through the doors.

“Then they realize once they get in just how friendly everyone is, how optimistic, and it seems to be contagious,” she said. “We see people leave with a lot of optimism.”