Two chuckwagons raced to the Calgary Food Bank today, but they were without their horses and instead jam-packed with donations.

On Thursday, July 4, 2024, the Calgary Food Bank (CFB) got into the spirit of The Stampede by collaborating with local chuckwagon driver, Chanse Vigen sponsored by Sideworx Connect. Two actual race-ready chuckwagons were strapped to a trailer and filled with 3017 pounds of food and provisions in the parking lot of the Heritage Meadows Superstore and were driven over to the CFB’s main warehouse.

“Every bit of support helps, but something that partnerships like this really bring to the table for us is when folks who have some profile and some influence in the community, like Chanse, use that stage to inform and educate others and inspire them to give back as well,” said Melissa From, President and CEO of the CFB.

The over 3,000 pound donation was gathered specifically for this event only through word of mouth, and the support of friends and family of those involved in the event. 

“When we think about our rural roots in Western Canada and the cowboy culture, part of that is taking care of one another and no cowboy left behind,” said From.

This is not the first time that Vigen and his team have collaborated with the CFB, with their last event in December of 2023 yielding more than 5,000 pounds in just one chuck wagon.

“I think if we learned anything from the flood a few years ago, we saw that people can really band together, especially during Stampede. It’s a special time for this city,” said Vigen.

Calgary Food Bank saw donations of provisions and funds double in 2013 during the floods, according to their annual report. With the recent water main break in mind for this event a palette of water was donated along with everything else today.

“The chuckwagon actually, in the old days, was the kitchen. That’s where the food came out of. So it’s just kind of a cool traditional scene that you’re seeing right now the food coming out of the chuck wagon,” said Vigen.

Along with the usual non-perishable items, diapers and pet food are also accepted by the CFB as donations. CFB distributes up to 700 food hampers a day, which contain enough food and provisions for seven days.

“Any chance you can give back, I mean, you’ve got to put your best foot forward. We’ve got a really strong friend group here and a strong group of advertisers for the Calgary Stampede. Everybody was eager to help and join in. So we’re going to make a great day of it today,” said Vigen.

The CFB said that over the last year 30 per cent of the people accessing their support were also employed reflecting the inflation and rising cost of living in the city. Statistics Canada in a report released in June 2024, said that grocery prices have increased by 22.5 per cent in the country since May of 2020.

The CFB and Vigen’s chuckwagon team plan on holding this event twice a year, once around Christmas and the other before The Stampede.