As the dog days of summer are upon us, the shelves at some Rocky View County food banks are getting sparse.
Unexpected need arising from the June flooding and low donations levels are seeing hampers lighter than they should be, according to organizers of food banks throughout the county.
However the Chestermere Food Bank is taking a new approach to filling their stock piles.
For the second year in a row, organizers have teamed up with the Chestermere Community Garden and are reaping the rewards.
“We’ve harvested lettuce, radish, cabbage, cauliflower,” said Danielle Furman, organizer with the food bank. “(It’s) basic common produce, it’s easier for people to cook.”
The two organizations teamed up and currently 10 volunteers man the two plots of vegetable gardens in downtown Chestermere.
Instead of stocking the hampers with canned food, fresh food is helping fill the need for the summer lull.
“We are very proud,” she said. “This year, we were able to expand to two lots (with) rows and rows (of produce).”
Further west, the Cochrane Food Bank is stretched thin, as stock piles have reached a low that will not fill the need until the fall.
“We have a semi-annual food drive in the spring and in the fall, and we knew in June that we wouldn’t be able to meet demand,” said Heather Fennell, chair of the Cochrane Food Bank.
While they weren’t directly impacted by the June floods in Southern Alberta, volunteers lent their services to help with sorting and raising food for residents living in Morley.
“We volunteered our bins and placed them in groceries stores (in Cochrane) because the community wanted to help (the people of Morley).”
While Bragg Creek is within their distribution area, the residents weren’t in need, Fennell said.
The summers are notorious for depletion levels and the Cochrane Food Bank is no different, the not-for-profit is in need of donations.
“It would be wonderful if people could (donate),” she said.
To the east, Irricana’s Food Bank – a family run affair for the past 10 years – is operating at levels that are normal for the season.
The food bank sees most of its donations come in the winter, around Christmas, organizers said.
“Well Christmas is a our busiest time,” Judy Adams, treasurer with the Irricana Food Bank said. “The schools do a food drive, the Catherine Association they do food drives as well and the fire department as well.”
The food bank covers the communities of Irricana, Keoma and Kathryn.
While the need isn’t as great as a larger city, Adams explains the organization is there to help when the need arises.
“We get referrals from Airdrie (Food Bank),” she said. “We get maybe two or three people needing (the hampers) and then some months we won’t have any, but we won’t turn down someone in need.”
It’s been a busy year for Airdrie’s Food Bank, as the organization is distributing food for victims of flooding, and while it may seem like large amounts of donations are filling the shelves, most are being used outside the community.
“This summer what has changed is we’ve been collecting for the (victims of the) flood,” Sue Mephuen, executive assistant of the Airdrie Food Bank.
“Because we’re distributing it to different areas, more food’s coming in and more is going out.”
The food banks website is updated frequently and lists the items most in demand.
“(Under ‘What’s Needed’) There’s an urgent list, and an emergency needed list,” Mephuen said. “If people want to continue to support the (victims of the) flood the emergency list is what they should be given.”
Currently, the Airdrie Food Bank is asking for: Canned fruit, canned meat, canned fish, sugar, rolled oats, flour, cheese whiz, canned pasta, tomato paste and cereal.
“How grateful we are,” Mephuen said. “We couldn’t do this without the help of the community.”
To donate to any of the county food banks, contact organizers to explore what items are needed.
For more information or to donate to the food banks, visit www.chestermere.ca, cochraneactivettes.ca, www.airdriefoodbanks.com or call Adams at 403-935-4911.
