Charity food drives: are they the answer? Here's what Calgarians say

Is it time for Canada to consider something like government food stamps to address hunger?

Atul Bir says 10 years ago, he would have said no. Charity is a better response. We’re looking out for each other. 

But today? Demand for food banks has soared, and that’s changing his mind. 

“People don’t realize that there are this many people that are hungry,” said the Calgary businessman who recently stopped to talk with CBC News about the issue.

“We all need to contribute, but more importantly, the government needs to consider that if we have hungry people … feeding them is the number one priority, next to shelter and clothing.”

Food bank use doubled in Canada since 2019. Food banks themselves — originally created as a temporary response to crisis — are now a core way Canadians address hunger. 

This month, charity food drives are expected to kick into high gear across the country.

So we thought we’d ask a more provocative question to hear what Calgary residents think of this. Is charity still the answer? Or could government regulatory changes increase income or decrease food prices? Or are there other ways to make sure people aren’t going hungry?

We mentioned the U.S. model of “food stamps” just to spark a conversation when we set up in the Country Hills public library branch, part of an ongoing partnership to host these public discussions. 

It was busy on a recent Wednesday evening when Bir spoke to us as he entered the library with his daughter. He says helping others by giving is an important part of the fight against hunger, but it might not be enough nowadays.

“We're fortunate to have what we do have, and if there's somebody less fortunate than us, then we should be able to help them out in any which way possible,” he said. “Otherwise, what are we really doing?”

Recent grad Kessiah Robertson was on her way to tutor a student when she stopped for a quick chat.

When she was a student in Victoria last year, she lived with four roommates in a three-bedroom apartment with mould in the bathroom. She also volunteered at the student food bank, which was constantly short on food and options, because students were also the ones running and funding it.

“When those donations do come in, they go insanely quick,” Robertson said.