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By Alessia Proietti

Donations needed

Red Deer Food Bank says demand has increased, even among employed

Aug 23, 2022 | 9:45 AM

In light of a recent study by the University of Toronto stating Alberta has the highest prevalence of food insecurity in the country, the Red Deer Food Bank says they are witnessing this trend first-hand.

“This year we’re seeing increases of demand of about 60 per cent, month after month over the last year and that’s been consistent of the first seven months of this year,” said Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of the Food Bank.

READ: UCP must act now for Albertans struggling with food insecurity, NDP says

Thomson says the Food Bank, serving Red Deer and 18 surrounding communities, is seeing roughly 3,400 people coming through the doors each month. This is in addition to their emergency food hamper program, containing one week’s worth of food and essentials, which is serving 800 households per month.

Although he says the economy is starting to pick up, inflationary pressures on groceries, fuel and utilities are increasing the demand for their services, especially amongst the working class.

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“Being employed does not guarantee that people are going to make it to the end of the month with enough food on the table and that’s something we’re seeing consistently,” he said.

Due to the same reasons for the increase in demand, Thomson explains there is a decline in supply and donations.

For their first quarter in 2022, he says funds were $100,000 less than usual. With food prices rising and donations decreasing, he confirms the Food Bank had to spend an additional $175,000 on supplemental foods to keep up with the demand.

This trend has also recently been identified by the Angus Reid Institute discovering that four in five Canadians have cut back on spending in recent months, with 27 per cent of survey respondents reducing their donations.

While Thomson says monetary donations are a plus as they can be stretched and increase their buying power, the Food Bank is also low on supply of normally fully stocked essentials.

“Cereal is in a huge shortage right now and as kids go back to school, we’d like to see them with a healthy breakfast to get started. Even things like pasta are really short right now and those are common food stocks,” he says. “We usually have a healthy amount available through donation but even right now we’re purchasing pasta which is unheard of.”

Thomson says summers are low seasons for charities in comparison to the fall and winter months.

READ: Red Deer Food Bank expects 5,000 Central Albertans in December

However, as a way to stay afloat, the Red Deer Food Bank has been operating an ice cream truck, coffee truck, food truck, smoker and barbeque trailer at various events including The Market at Red Deer each Saturday in downtown. All proceeds are used towards purchasing food for those in need and donations are also accepted at the trucks.

Just one month in operation, he says the feedback on the trucks has been positive and their next stop will be at the Centrefest Street Performer Festival from September 3-4.