The Calgary Food Bank says demand has increased by 100 per cent from last year and it can’t keep shelves stocked.
Soft oil prices and massive layoffs are hitting a lot of Calgarians including former military personnel.
“I lost my job in October and things are really tight,” said “Kevin” who served 10 years in the army but did not want his real name used.
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He now brings a food hamper home to his family of five every three months from the agency warehouse in northeast Calgary.
“They have helped me ever since with bills and food things for the kids, you know, just to help us out which is what we really need.”
The Calgary Food Bank said it is desperate to re-supply its food items to meet the need as Calgary struggles with oil below $50 a barrel.
“This is the worst that I have ever seen,” Marie Blackburn, the manager of the Veterans Food Bank, said.
“Based on how the economy is going right now, it’s been really desperate for other people including our veterans so we need supplies and we need them quick to continue on for the hampers we are going to be sending out next year as well.”
Blackburn said the agency will be getting a cheque for $10,000 from a donor next week but it will only cover the cost of about 350 food hampers and they are earmarked for Christmas when demand is expected to peak.
“We need more donations, more food, more cash and we need it quickly”
The help his family gets from Veterans Food Bank gives Kevin, his wife and three children some hope.
“It’s a struggle but we keep going on.”
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