Veterans Association Food Bank filling more than 325 hampers for veterans and their families over holidays

Dave Hartman is a 10 year veteran of the Canadian Forces and needed the Veterans Association Food Bank a few years ago. But now he’s in a position to ‘pay it forward’ and is helping fill gift bags for veterans families.

Volunteers at the Veterans Association Food Bank work constantly in the warehouse to empty food donation bins and fill holiday food hampers for hundreds of families. The problem is there's not enough food being donated and the hampers will be delivered on December 21st.

Veterans Association Food Bank executive director Marie Blackburn said  there is more need this time of year from veterans who are struggling to make ends meet and as a result, she said they'll likely need more than 325 hampers because there are always some last minute additions to the list.

"We send out about 60 to 80 hampers a month and a lot of people just want the Christmas hampers so that's why the numbers are quite a bit higher," she said.

Blackburn said it's hard to know just how big the veterans community is in Calgary because many don't need help. But she guesses there are close to 1,000 that have come to the food bank over the last six years.

"We've had so many people tell that us without this hamper, they would have to go without paying a bill or sending their kids to hockey or whatever the case may be," she said. "So, it's absolutely imperative that this hamper goes out at Christmas."

The bulk of donations for the Veterans Association Food Bank come in November around Remembrance Day. This year, donations are down but the need is steadily increasing.

"This year has been a struggle with the food coming in and also some of the financial donations," she said. "I'm not sure how much the postal strike had to do with that, but I'm sure it had a fairly significant impact, even the amount of money that we're spending right now helping people stay in their homes, supporting them with bills -- whatever they need, because it's something that we do here to support our veterans community."

'This is a way of giving back'

Bob Barron is volunteering in the warehouse filling boxes for families and says four boxes make up one hamper.

"What we're putting in there is mainly the basic soup, spaghetti, toilet paper, hygiene bags, toothpaste, hair shampoos, things like that," he said.

Barron served 25 years in the military and says he feels fulfilled being in a position to help other vets because he's been fortunate.

"This is this is a way of giving back and makes me feel good," he said. "I'm able to give and care for others."

The food bank also makes sure the veterans have gifts for everyone in the family for Christmas. Dave Hartman is filling some of the gift bags. He's a 10-year veteran of the Canadian Forces and remembers needing help.

"A few years ago, I was in a situation that I couldn't afford to eat either, even though I was working full time," he said. "I came here asking for help and they gave me the help that I needed to move forward so now that I'm back on my feet, I come in here to help."

The food hampers will be delivered on December 21st and Blackburn says she can always use more volunteers to help get them to the veterans.

"We've always said here that they (veterans) gave us as much as they could," said Blackburn. "So now it's our turn to help them out so this is why this is so heartwarming to do at Christmas time."

Learn more about volunteering and donating here.