'Take a blessing. Leave a blessing': Calgary community group invites city to its food banks, including 3 for pets

The Love for Humanity Association has created a number of community food banks that offer free food for Calgarians.

A Calgary community group is stepping up to help fight food insecurity in the city.

Over the past year or two, Calgary’s Love With Humanity Association has created a number of community food banks, including three for pets, to help push back against the high cost of living that has left many families and other Calgarians struggling with food insecurity.

Love for Humanity Association president Syed Hassan issued a release Friday, with an updated list of locations of all the organization’s food banks – both as an invitation for those experiencing food insecurity to come and get some and for those able to contribute non-perishable food items to come drop some off.

“Hopefully, the community outdoor food banks will also give them the opportunity to put food on their table,” Hassan said, “and celebrate the joyful Christmas season happily.”

“If you have non-perishable food items, you can drop off,” he said. “If you need, you can take it any time.”

"Take a blessing," he added. "Leave a blessing."

Community food bank for pets

Hassan added a note for would-be donors to consider. “In extreme cold weather, we would like to request to donate only non-perishable dry food items, and not the canned goods, because canned items will freeze.”

There is also a community food bank in Edmonton at 11913 134 Avenue in the Kensington community.

Here is a list of Love With Humanity Association’s Calgary community food banks:

• - 75 Saddlelake Way NE (Saddle Ridge);
• - 631 Whitewood Rd. NE (Whitehorn);
• - 1300 41 St SE, (Forest Lawn);
• - 360 Falshire Dr. NE (Falconridge);
• - 7107 Elbow Dr, SW;
• - 1839 9 Ave SE (Inglewood);
• - 4521 Montgomery Ave NW. (Montgomery);
• - 135 Mckenna Crescent  SE.;
• - 2734 76 Ave SE. (Ogden);
• - 2636 12 Ave SE Albert Park Radisson Heights;
• - 4448 Dallyn St NE  (Dalhousie); and
• -156 Taracove Estate Dr NE  (New Location )

Community food bank for pets are located at::

• -631 Whitewood Rd.  NE;
• -2636 12 Ave SE; and
• -75 Saddlelake Way NE