Thousands of volunteers mobilize as Calgary Food Bank sends out request for ‘food and funds’
An estimated 8,000 volunteers mobilized across the city Saturday as the Calgary Food Bank went door-to-door collecting food and funds.
After a record level of demand in 2023, the organization’s president and CEO Melissa From said it’s just as strong so far in 2024.
“What we’ve seen over the past 12 months is folks continuing to be impacted,’ From said in an interview with CTV News.
“Increases in mortgage rates and various cost of living increases –especially the cost of food has gone up – so much, so we’re still seeing that need growing in our city.”
From said one noticeable change has been in the rise of people using the food bank who have full-time jobs and still can’t make ends meet.
Saturday, the food bank mobilized its lengthy volunteer list in order to collect food and financial contributions.
"Today we're hoping we collect somewhere in the ballpark of 400,000 to 500,000 pounds of food," she said. "And there was a time when that would have lasted us well into the year, but I would say that (food) will stick around a couple of months for us."
The food will be collected by a small army of food bank volunteers, she said.
“Eight thousand volunteers are making this happen today,” she said. “It’s absolutely incredible – many hands make light work.
“We have incredible folks in the community who support us every day as volunteers, and especially today.”
From added that if you missed the food bank volunteers Saturday, you can always make a financial contribution.
“For every dollar donated, we can donate $3.50 worth of food,” she said, “so those financial contributions go a really a long way.”
Sergio Rodriguez, from the Church of Latter Day Saints, said he was there Saturday to greet church members who were volunteering.
He said his message to them was short and sweet: “We need to help those in need.”
For more information about the Calgary Food Bank, go here.
With files from CTV's Tyler Barrow
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Conservatives call on Elon Musk to step in after Liberals provide loan to Ottawa-based satellite operator
A $2.14-billion federal loan for an Ottawa-based satellite operator has Canadian politicians arguing about whether American billionaire Elon Musk poses a national security risk.
Myths busted and lessons learned: John Vennavally-Rao on his surgery to reverse his ostomy
Twenty-seven year CTV News reporter and anchor John Vennavally-Rao shares his story of what it was like to have an ostomy bag as part of his health-care battle. 'I’m grateful for what it did to extend my life,' he writes in a personal column for CTVNews.ca.
Operation to remove Nearly 1,000 tires from the Saint Lawrence River
Unusual flippered feet are making their way into the Saint Lawrence River this weekend. Led by underwater explorer and filmmaker Nathalie Lasselin, volunteer divers are combing the riverbed near Beauharnois in Montérégie to remove hundreds of tires that have been polluting the aquatic environment for decades.
Rescuers free entangled sea lion off Vancouver Island
A sea lion swam free after a rescue team disentangled it near Vancouver Island earlier this week.
Kamala Harris accepts CNN debate invitation for Oct. 23, challenging Trump to another showdown
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Saturday accepted an invitation from CNN to debate former President Donald Trump on October 23, challenging her rival to another engagement on a public stage in the final weeks of the campaign.
Police arrest 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole Porsche and ran over its owner
Police have arrested an 18-year-old woman who allegedly stole a Porsche and then ran over its owner in an incident that was captured on video.
How to win the fight with kids over phone use
The end of the day — when school, extracurricular activities and homework are (hopefully) finally done — is the window that many kids have for downtime. It can be a struggle to convince them not to go on their phones.
Kids are inhaling 'Galaxy Gas' to get high. Here’s what parents should know
For some young people, a popular method for getting a quick high is by misusing laughing gas — and lately, that’s in the form of nitrous oxide from products sold by the company Galaxy Gas.
Housing support for adult children with severe autism is 'absolutely absurd,' say parents
Looking after an adult with severe autism can be a full-time job. Ask any parent who has a child severely affected by autism spectrum disorder – it’s a job that can get more difficult as the child becomes an adult.