Food Bank

Bernadine ‘Byrd’ Simmonds has seen local need lgrow rapidly over the last year at the Red Deer Food Bank — and the situation is expected to be exacerbated in 2023. (Contributed photo).

Sad stories abound from Red Deerians who can’t afford food amid rising costs

Red Deer Food Bank intake worker says local need is expanding

 

Mitch Thomson, executive-director of the Red Deer Food Bank, says food donations during Christmas didn’t quite fill up the shelves at the food bank. (Contributed photo)

Demand expected to rise at Red Deer Food Bank in 2023

Last year Red Deer Food Bank had to reach out to other food banks for help

 

On Monday the UCP government announced it will adjust assistance program rates by six per cent to match the rate of inflation. (File photo by BLACK PRESS)

Struggle to make ends meet will continue with only a six per cent increase in benefits

Keeping up with inflation rate needs to happen more often, says Red Deer Food Bank

 

Red Deer Food Bank executive director Mitch Thomson appreciates the $20 million in provincial funding to help Alberta food banks in 2023 and 2024 — a time of unprecedented need and rising costs. (Contributed photo)

Red Deer Food Bank appreciates first-ever promise of provincial funding

Unprecedented need is happening alongside fast-rising grocery costs

Red Deer Food Bank executive director Mitch Thomson appreciates the $20 million in provincial funding to help Alberta food banks in 2023 and 2024 — a time of unprecedented need and rising costs. (Contributed photo)
Albertans have the highest food insecurity in Canada, according to the latest Food Banks Canada’s national HungerCount report. (Black Press file photo.)

Growing food insecurity is creating an Alberta crisis, say food bank officials

Unprecedented demand amid diminished food donations create struggles at Red Deer food bank

Albertans have the highest food insecurity in Canada, according to the latest Food Banks Canada’s national HungerCount report. (Black Press file photo.)
Less than a third of needy local families will find any “extras,” like a chicken or turkey, in their monthly hamper this month from the Red Deer Food Bank, which is struggling to match supplies with demand. (Contributed photo).

Red Deer Food Bank is struggling to provide for the needy at Thanksgiving

A minority of clients will get a chicken or turkey in their hamper

Less than a third of needy local families will find any “extras,” like a chicken or turkey, in their monthly hamper this month from the Red Deer Food Bank, which is struggling to match supplies with demand. (Contributed photo).
Red Deer Food Bank is in need of food donations. (File photo by Advocate staff)

Red Deer Food Bank urgently needs food donations

‘Our shelves haven’t been this bare in a long, long time’

Red Deer Food Bank is in need of food donations. (File photo by Advocate staff)
Local resident Dave sits at the Community Food Hub in London, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Across Britain, food banks and community food hubs that helped struggling families, older people and the homeless during the pandemic are now seeing soaring demand. The cost of food and fuel in the U.K. has risen sharply since late last year, with inflation reaching the highest level in 40 years. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)

More turn to UK food banks as food and fuel bills soar

More turn to UK food banks as food and fuel bills soar

Local resident Dave sits at the Community Food Hub in London, Wednesday, May 4, 2022. Across Britain, food banks and community food hubs that helped struggling families, older people and the homeless during the pandemic are now seeing soaring demand. The cost of food and fuel in the U.K. has risen sharply since late last year, with inflation reaching the highest level in 40 years. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
Loblaw Companies Limited has just launched its annual Spring Food Drive. (Photo from Google Maps)

Loblaw grocery stores in Red Deer launch annual Spring Food Drive

Red Deer Food Bank thanks donors for making a difference in people’s lives

Loblaw Companies Limited has just launched its annual Spring Food Drive. (Photo from Google Maps)
Demand is on the rise at Red Deer agencies that provide food to people in need. (File photo by Advocate staff)

Red Deerians lean on local agencies as cost of living rises

Salvation Army helping to feed more children on weekends

Demand is on the rise at Red Deer agencies that provide food to people in need. (File photo by Advocate staff)
Mitch Thomson, executive-director of the Red Deer Food Bank, is excited a community kitchen is to be installed this spring to teach more people about food preservation and cooking. (Photo by LANA MICHELIN/ Advocate staff).

Red Deer East Rotary Club partners with food bank on community kitchen project

The $300,000 project is expected to be completed by May

Mitch Thomson, executive-director of the Red Deer Food Bank, is excited a community kitchen is to be installed this spring to teach more people about food preservation and cooking. (Photo by LANA MICHELIN/ Advocate staff).
The Red Deer Food Bank is planning to create a community kitchen, in a collaboration with the Rotary Club of Red Deer East. (Black Press file photo).

Red Deer Food Bank to create a community kitchen with Rotary Club

Rotary Club of Red Deer East is doing some fundraising

The Red Deer Food Bank is planning to create a community kitchen, in a collaboration with the Rotary Club of Red Deer East. (Black Press file photo).
The shelves at Red Deer and District Food Bank are well stocked after plenty of donations in December. (Black Press file photo)

Pandemic strains Red Deer Food Bank donors and clients

Stress grows among clients

The shelves at Red Deer and District Food Bank are well stocked after plenty of donations in December. (Black Press file photo)
Mitch Thomson, executive director of Red Deer District Food Bank (left), was grateful for the donation of 247 Christmas meals from local businessman Dale Devereaux. (Photo from Facebook)

Red Deer Food Bank clients continue to benefit from ‘Christmas angel’

247 holiday meals donated to food bank

Mitch Thomson, executive director of Red Deer District Food Bank (left), was grateful for the donation of 247 Christmas meals from local businessman Dale Devereaux. (Photo from Facebook)
The AMA is mustering its forces to help collect donations for the Red Deer Food Bank and other such organizations during a time of high demand. (Contributed photo).

Need is rising for Red Deer food bank donations — and AMA plans to help

The Alberta Motor Association wants to “channel the power of community action”…

The AMA is mustering its forces to help collect donations for the Red Deer Food Bank and other such organizations during a time of high demand. (Contributed photo).
The Fall Food Drive is set for Oct. 23. (File photo by BLACK PRESS).

Fall Food Drive happens Oct. 23 in Red Deer

Organized by members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

The Fall Food Drive is set for Oct. 23. (File photo by BLACK PRESS).
Volunteer Markel Lucas, center, takes a box of food to a patron of the food bank's car, at the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC), Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Fewer in US turn to food banks, but millions still in need

Fewer in US turn to food banks, but millions still in need

Volunteer Markel Lucas, center, takes a box of food to a patron of the food bank's car, at the Town Hall Education Arts & Recreation Campus (THEARC), Wednesday, Oct. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
Alberta country singer/songwriter Ryan Lindsay is helping out the Red Deer Food Bank, in the aftermath of frozen meat thefts from its storage unit, by auctioning off a house concert. (Contributed photo)

Country artist will auction off a house concert to raise money for Red Deer Food Bank

Ryan Lindsay wants to help after frozen meat was stolen from local food bank

Alberta country singer/songwriter Ryan Lindsay is helping out the Red Deer Food Bank, in the aftermath of frozen meat thefts from its storage unit, by auctioning off a house concert. (Contributed photo)
Red Deer area residents are being asked to consider making more meat donations after a sea-can of stored frozen meat was stolen from the Red Deer Food Bank last weekend. (Photo contributed).

Frozen meat stolen from Red Deer Food Bank

The Red Deer Food Bank is seeking more meat donations after somebody…

Red Deer area residents are being asked to consider making more meat donations after a sea-can of stored frozen meat was stolen from the Red Deer Food Bank last weekend. (Photo contributed).
A volunteer at Beyond Food Community Hub which houses Blackfalds Food Bank. (Contributed photo)

Blackfalds Food Bank developing community kitchen

MEGlobal donates $100,000

A volunteer at Beyond Food Community Hub which houses Blackfalds Food Bank. (Contributed photo)