Red Deer Food Bank warehouse. Picture taken Oct. 5, 2022. (Supplied)

By rdnewsNOW Staff

In Line With National Trends

Red Deer Food Bank sees 68 per cent increase in emergency food hamper demand over past year

Oct 27, 2022 | 12:34 PM

According to the latest HungerCount report, released today by Food Banks Canada, Albertans rely on food banks more than any other province in the country.

This information comes at a time when people in Red Deer and area are facing a perfect storm of record-high inflation, soaring utility costs, and incomes that cannot keep up with the rising cost of living, say officials with the Red Deer Food Bank.

At Red Deer Food Bank, the organization says it is seeing more clients come through their doors looking for support because they simply can’t make ends meet. As a result, the Red Deer Food Bank says it has seen a 68 per cent increase in emergency food hamper demand at their facility in the past year, aligned with trending that they are also seeing provincially.

The national HungerCount report, released annually by Food Banks Canada, collects data from food banks across the country and offers insight into national food insecurity trends. Officials say the data collected is considered a moment in time snapshot of the realities facing food banks across the country, and is reflective of data gathered from food banks in March 2022.

Food Banks Canada notes that despite the nation moving out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and unemployment rates dropping, more Canadians are requiring the support of food banks to make it through the month.

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Key Findings

• 156,690 Albertans accessed a food bank in March 2022, a 34 per cent increase from 2021.
• Over 57,750 children access food banks in Alberta.
• 44.9 per cent of food bank users are families.
• 11 per cent of food bank users own their own homes; higher than the national average of 7.1 per cent.
• 59.7 per cent of rural food bank users receive government assistance like AISH or CPP/pension.
• 1 in 5 Albertans are experiencing food insecurity.

At the local level, the Red Deer Food Bank says it is seeing similar trends, supporting an average of 4,200 client visits each month.

“We are seeing more homeowners, double income families and individuals that are fully employed who are accessing our services and eligible because of emergency scenarios,” says Mitch Thomson, Executive Director of the Red Deer Food Bank. “The number of students is also up. These factors are a result of higher food costs, higher fuel costs and volatile utility bills.

“Seniors with fixed incomes, persons with disabilities and those who rely on government benefits do not have the elasticity to manage these pressures,” Thomson continues. “Demand is growing, and benefit programs are not. Claw backs related to pandemic relief and increasing costs of borrowing are further damaging. Mental health concerns are a growing factor in program support and delivery. All these factors are creating a social crisis.”

Officials with the Red Deer Food Bank say inflation and the rising costs of food are a primary reason for individuals reaching out to them for support. With food prices reaching a 41-year high, officials say the increase in client demand puts further pressure on food banks.

“Dairy prices are up 8 per cent since 2021 – and that’s not even counting inflation. That’s just the base increase from the Dairy Commission of Canada,” shares Thomson. “Items that used to be affordable, like pasta and grains – easy options for people to donate to food banks – have increased in price due to the war in Ukraine, shipping costs, and utility increases that are passed on to consumers. When you look at items like meat, dairy, or fresh fruit, those items are simply a luxury for many folks living on a low or fixed income.”

Thomson says that not only has the fundraising results decreased during this time of increasing pressure, as a food bank, food and food handling costs have increased by a quarter of a million dollars to keep up with the surges in demand, a practice that is said to be echoed at community food banks across the province.

“Provincially, 41.8 per cent of people are accessing food banks because their wages haven’t kept up with the increasing cost of living, the cost of utilities, and the cost of food. At the food bank level, our purchasing power has decreased, as we are not immune to the increased cost of food, either. That means we are trying to do more with less. We don’t know what’s next.”

Thomson shares that despite these pressures, their doors are open, and they are ready to help the Red Deer community. “We know it’s tough out there – we have seen so many new faces this year alone. And we know that winter is coming. No member of our community should have to go hungry or choose between paying bills and putting food on the table. We encourage anyone in need of support to reach out to Red Deer Food Bank at 403-346-1151. We’re here to help.”

Red Deer Food Bank supports include perishable and non-perishable items, menstrual and hygiene products, household essentials, pet food and more. Community members can arrange for a hamper by phoning our Hamper Line at 403-346-1151.