(Photo: Food Banks Alberta)

By rdnewsNOW staff

#foodbanksalberta

Food Banks Alberta prepares to support more Albertans this holiday season

Dec 14, 2020 | 5:05 PM

Times are tough, but accessing nutritious food or family essentials doesn’t have to be. This is the message Food Banks Alberta and its nearly 100 member food banks across the province want to share with all Albertans.

“We want our message to all Albertans to be clear and simple. We are open, we are safe, and we are ready to welcome you whether you want to give or receive support,” said Arianna Scott, Senior Project Manager for Food Banks Alberta. “People have enough on their plates these days, so we don’t want anyone to worry about how they are going to feed themselves or their families.”

Scott says they are seeing an increase in new clients accessing the food banks because of circumstances related to COVID-19. They are also anticipating a significant increase in need starting this holiday season and extending into the tax season of 2021.

“The pandemic has affected many Albertans in different ways, but we have noticed many of our new clients were unaware they could access their local food bank,” says Scott. “These are people who have mortgage and car payments who need to prioritize those payments, but may not be left with much else to be able to put food on the table. Also, with CERB running out, we are also seeing those affected by job loss in industries like energy, tourism and hospitality looking for places to get extra help.”

In 2019, over 89,821 Albertans accessed the food bank monthly, with over 13,614 being visits to rural food banks (Source: HungerCount 2019). Food Banks Alberta and its members are preparing for a significant increase in these numbers in 2020 due to the impact of COVID-19, the ending of CERB, the continued economic crisis facing Alberta, and the rising cost of living.

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Scott says in recent months many new food banks clients and donors are also uncertain if it’s safe to access their local food bank. Many people are looking to donate to their local food banks, but they have held back on dropping off donations because they weren’t sure if it was safe to do so.

“I assure you that your donations will be needed and welcomed, especially as we go into a busy holiday season where the need increases,” says Scott. “We have seen overwhelming support from Albertans since the beginning of COVID-19, and we ask those who are in a position to give to consider supporting their communities by donating to their local food bank.”

Scott also notes they are seeing an outpouring of #AlbertaStrong style community support. From individuals to radio stations to real estate firms to sports teams and even classrooms; Albertans are uniting to create their own community donation drives.

“We see you, we thank you and we encourage you to keep it up,” she adds.

There are 98 food banks across Alberta connected to Food Banks Alberta, an association of member organizations that have united to share resources, funding opportunities, and social service connections. There’s a food bank in your community, supported by Albertans, for Albertans.

To learn more about Food Banks Alberta, to make a donation, or to find a food bank nearest you, visit: www.foodbanksalberta.ca/open.