For the past 43 years, the Calgary Food Bank has operated out of a single location for clients, but an ambitious new pilot is about to change that service model.
Coming this summer, the food bank will be opening a branch location at the Neoma Building in downtown Calgary.
The branch, when completed, will look and operate like a traditional grocery store—sans fees—representing what Calgary Food Bank CEO Melissa From said was a more dignified way to provide service to clients.
“I think this is going to be a game changer for folks who are residing in the downtown core, in the Beltline area, but even the residents of this building,” From said.
“We know that folks who live in the Beltline and in the downtown core are a higher percentage of folks who don’t have their own transportation. So to make it more accessible to them, to have less barriers to access to food, is going to support them in so many different ways.”
She said that the move to the grocery store model reflects the need to serve an increasingly diverse clientele at the food bank.
“We see so many different dietary needs, culturally, and in terms of health needs. But I think beyond even those basics, there is just basic human dignity and being able to decide for yourself, am I having pastel or rice? Am I buying apples or oranges?” From said.
The new branch will serve up to 200 households daily, which represents approximately 600 individuals. Currently the Calgary Food Bank serves 800 households per day, said From.
“The Downtown Core and the Beltline areas are two of our most represented communities at the Calgary Food Bank. But Further to that, 25 per cent of folks who use the Calgary Food Bank are accessing those services via public transit every day, so being on the CTrain line will further increase the ability for folks to come and access our services,” she said.
She said that change would reduce trips for clients in farther corners of the city who currently have to use multiple Calgary Transit buses.
“You can imagine being a single parent with a small child and 10 days’ worth of groceries, riding the bus, and doing multiple transfers coming from far corners of the city. And if we can just eliminate some of those barriers and some of those challenges, I think that’ll create a better experience and more dignity for everyone involved,” From said.
From said that the branch would be operated by staff and volunteers from the Calgary Food Bank.
Located next to 6 Street and 7 Avenue SE LRT station
The decision to locate the branch in the downtown came about as a partnership with Inn from the Cold and HomeSpace, as the Neoma building is operated by HomeSpace for Inn from the Cold.
“We’re focused on families and individuals experiencing homelessness, and the Calgary Food Bank is all about making sure that people have the food that they need. We know that food insecurity and housing instability go hand in hand,” said Heather Morley, CEO of Inn from the Cold.
“At Inn from the Cold, within this building, we have shelter for 32 families, and then there’s about 62 to 72 other families and individuals that have affordable housing in this building—so there’s well over 100 individuals and families right here. For them to be able to access the services of the food bank, which most of them do, it’s about the convenience. It’s about the dignity.”
She said that the partnership is a result of work being done behind the scenes to collaborate on providing services to individuals and families.
“We should be doing the work behind the scenes to better coordinate and offer that full range of services, instead of having individuals and families adding to their stress, adding to their time trying to figure out, ‘well, where do I go to get a meal? Where do I go to get shelter?'” Morley said.
