The Airdrie Food Bank has cancelled the upcoming Empty Bowl Arts Festival, citing a lack of staff and volunteers, as well as increased use of the food bank’s services.
Typically, the Empty Bowls Arts Festival invites guests to enjoy a warm bowl of soup while listening to live music every September. Attendees are then able to bid on hand-painted bowls that were crafted by community members, with all proceeds going to support the local food bank.
The festival is a way the food bank says ‘thank you’ to the community, according to Christine Taylor, the events, marketing, and communications manager for the Airdrie Food Bank.
“We’re missing being able to do it this year, but we just didn’t want to do it unless we could do it the best that we are used to doing,” Taylor said. “We are so busy feeding our community that we do not have the staff or volunteers to put on an event of that size.”
The festival was an online event in 2021 and 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. It was last held in person in September 2019, and this year's event was slated to run Sept. 24.
According to Taylor, it takes approximately 100 volunteers to put on the Empty Bowls festival each year, and the food bank does not currently have enough volunteers to support the planning or hosting logistics of the event. She added the food bank is always looking for new volunteers and those interested can email [email protected] or visit bit.ly/3CGArOG for more information.
“We’re hoping that once summer’s over…some of our volunteers will come back or maybe some new people will be interested,” Taylor said.
Compounding the difficulties of the food bank's volunteer shortage, an increase in clientele also contributed to calling off the Empty Bowls festival. According to Taylor, the food bank is currently seeing triple the amount of new clients they typically serve during this time of year and is serving over 1,000 Airdorians a month through the food bank’s walk-in program.
“We’re busier than ever and so we have to just continue to maintain what we do best, and that is to feed our community. And that’s the [other] main reason we cancelled the event,” she said.
As the cost of living continues to rise throughout Alberta, Taylor said inflation and the economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic have caused the increase in clientele, among other factors.
“We’re seeing the effects of COVID [and] we’re seeing the effects of supply chain issues,” Taylor added. “The prices of everything has gone up but that’s also because of job loss, inflation, gas and grocery prices, affordable housing…there are a lot of reasons people need help.”
Taylor said many households are having to choose between paying bills or purchasing groceries. It’s a choice no one should have to make, which is why the food bank is trying to eliminate the decision by providing meals for families.
“You shouldn’t have to choose between eating and keeping your electricity on,” Taylor said.
Although the Empty Bowls Arts Festival has been cancelled, the Shamrock Shimmy event the food bank hosts every St. Patrick’s Day is currently still going forward next March, which will be the first time in three years the event is held.
“The Shamrock Shimmy is one of our biggest fundraisers and we’re really crossing our fingers that we’ll be ready to celebrate this year,” Taylor said.
“We just want to thank our community for the support they’ve given us through COVID. We’ve been able to continue to feed our community and we’re just thankful for everyone’s support.”
