Edmonton food bank for veterans struggling to keep up with demand
CBC
As inflation and food costs rise, an Edmonton food bank for veterans is struggling to keep up with increasing demand.
The Veterans Association Food Bank opened its Edmonton location in 2020 after the same organization found success in Calgary.
They've since opened two more warehouses in Grande Prairie and Lethbridge to support veterans across the province.
But the rising need has made it difficult to keep up.
Operations manager Bob Cotton said right now they don't have enough food for the 160 hampers going out in November.
"We are in such desperate, desperate need of food so that we can help the families of veterans and veterans themselves to put some food on the table," Cotton said.
The hundreds of volunteers that make up the organization are veterans themselves or have loved ones who served. That connection of veterans helping veterans offers a safe space for people to seek help if they need it, said Cotton.
Cotton, a Canadian Forces veteran, said even if help is needed, pride is a big hurdle many veterans need to overcome first.
"If I was in the lineup at a regular food bank and I had a family of two or three behind me, I'd move," Cotton said.
"Too much pride. We served our countries, and to be able to get the kind of help that we need, we need this space."
Since opening, the number of clients they serve has quadrupled.
"I would say right from 2020, we started off with only 40 clients, and now we're at 160. And it's every day—almost every day—we have new veterans coming in, walking through the door."
Long-time volunteer Chelle Murray delivers hampers to veterans across the city and sees just how much the food is appreciated.
"Some of them get emotional. It's really hard for them to put their own service feelings aside and to maybe be in a position where they have to ask for help," Murray said.