(Supplied/Art by Bailey Horton)

By Josh Hall | @Vancan19

food insecurity

Art exchange and food drive at RDP means to spark curiosity

Nov 5, 2024 | 4:06 PM

A Red Deer Polytechnic student is using her art to help the Red Deer Food Bank.

Bailey Horton, a Visual Arts program student, came up with the idea to show that art can have a positive influence on social issues.

Horton’s exhibit entitled ‘Unhampered‘ will be on display Thursday, Nov. 7 in The Forum at RDP where there will also be a food drive, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Another part of the event is a print exchange, meaning if you donate items to the food bank, you’ll receive a print of Horton’s artwork.

“With Unhampered, I hope to use my artistic practice to open up curiosity around our local food bank and the services they provide,” said Horton, then speaking about the food bank’s inclusion in the process of putting her art pieces together.

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“We discussed some of the possible causes of food scarcity, how it affects a person’s lifestyle, work, and school, where we source food, the quality of our food, and what is needed to shift the stigma and lift one another up into a healthier life and brighter outlook. It was a great experience, and we all learned from one another.”

The Red Deer Food Bank recently shared that it had essentially run out of food, and even more recently, Food Banks Canada shared that usage has skyrocketed 90 per cent in just five years.

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READ MORE

• ‘As bad as it gets’: Red Deer Food Bank shares images of barren shelves
• Operation Food Lift exchanges flights for funds to the Red Deer Food Bank
• Zukiwsky Group donates over $28,000 to Red Deer Food Bank
• Food bank visits up 90 per cent in Canada, 81 per cent in Red Deer in five years
• Monthly food bank use soars to record 2 million, driven by cost of groceries, housing

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“Red Deer College has a food bank for their students as well,” notes Mitch Thomson, executive director at the Red Deer Food Bank.

“However, they can only access the service three times during the duration of their program. If they can no longer access the service at the school, they come to us. Naturally, that means students in need are indeed some of those who are among the two million Canadians visiting food banks across the country every month.”

Horton’s Unhampered series consists of paper bag drawings, inspired by the food bank’s hampers and pantry staples.

To participate in the print exchange and food drive, visit RDP on Thursday and donate food or funds, after which you can request a complimentary art print of your choice from the students in attendance.