Calgary Meals on Wheels battling rising costs due to inflation
Officials with Calgary Meals on Wheels say the charity is struggling right now thanks to rising fuel and delivery costs combined with an increase in food and utility prices.
The agency operates annually on $5 million and does budget for inflation, but even taking that into account, rising costs have forced it to spent $85,000 over budget to keep up.
Co-CEO Stephanie Ralph says rising costs are adding up for them in the same way they are for families throughout the city.
"The more the price is rising in Calgary, the more people who are probably going to be looking for services like ours," said Ralph. "So essentially, what we need to do is just fundraise more to make it happen."
The agency prepares 4,000 meals daily in its industrial kitchen and delivers them to 500 clients.
Some of the highest price increases staff say they are seeing is on essential ingredients.
"It's really impacting bread, milk, fruits, vegetables," said Ralph. "When we look at our menu, we follow Canada's Food Guide and we're trying our best to make the meals dietarily safe for the clients that need that."
Ralph says right now, Meals on Wheels is managing with the help of generous donors, and there is nowhere to cut costs in the organization to make up for inflation.
"The last thing we ever want to do is pass those costs on to our fee for service clients," she said. "We want to keep those costs as low as we can, because they're already having financial challenges."
The agency relies on volunteer drivers to deliver food to clients.
Christine Hentschel coordinates the drivers from an annual pool of 400 people.
"Oour volunteers do use their own vehicles and we offer a gas rebate program to help with the expense that comes with that," said Hentschel. "Gas prices – the way they've been going lately – definitely impacts some of the abilities of our volunteers to volunteer as much as they may have otherwise."
The organization also operates a fleet of vans to deliver food and insurance costs are also on the rise. Ralph doesn't see a time when inflation will ease on all fronts.
"And the thing about gas is that's the part that seems to be the most unpredictable," she said. "The end doesn't seem to be coming as when we're going to see it stop rising."
Learn more about Meals on Wheels Calgary by visiting the organization's website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Shivering for health: The myths and truths of ice baths explained
In a climate of social media-endorsed wellness rituals, plunging into cold water has promised to aid muscle recovery, enhance mental health and support immune system function. But the evidence of such benefits sits on thin ice, according to researchers.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Manitoba mom praises quick-thinking fire department for freeing daughter stuck in playground equipment
A Manitoba mother is praising firefighters for their quick work in helping her daughter who got stuck at a playground in Lorette, Man.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.