(Photo: Food Banks Canada on Facebook)

By Justin Goulet

Alberta has one of Canada’s highest food bank usage rates: 2021 HungerCount

Oct 28, 2021 | 10:29 AM

LEDUC, AB – Food Banks Canada has released the latest HungerCount.

For Alberta, it was found that food banks across the province saw 116,396 visits in March 2021, an increase of 29.6 per cent since the last HungerCount, released in 2019. Alberta saw one of the highest visitation figures in the country.

The report can be viewed here.

In March 2021, there were over 44,586 visits to food banks in the province by children and 45 per cent of Alberta’s food bank users are families. In rural Alberta, 30.5 per cent of food bank users are seniors or individuals with a disability and 15.2 per cent of users across the province receive Provincial Disability Supports, according to the report.

It was reported that one in eight Canadians access a community food program like a food bank.

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Interim CEO Arianna Scott of Food Banks Alberta said, “it’s staggering to see these numbers in Alberta, but not surprising with how hard hit the province was largely due to the pandemic.”

“Our member food banks across Alberta have all been reporting a surge in food bank access, which includes a new population of Albertans accessing their local food bank largely due to increases in rental or housing costs, increased food costs, unemployment and other pandemic-related circumstances.”

Scott remarked that the organization is working with Food Banks Canada and its member food banks in Alberta to make sure all facilities are prepared for visitation numbers to trend upwards as supports from government are anticipated to decrease.

Food Banks Canada’s Director of Research Richard Matern said, “as a nation, we have a pivotal choice to make, to return to a ‘pre-pandemic’ cycle of poverty, or to build a better Canada where no one goes hungry, and poverty is addressed at its root causes.”

“The 2021 HungerCount data shows early in the pandemic, government supports helped flatten demand at Canada’s food banks, but in recent months, visits are beginning to surge with one-in-seven food banks experiencing a doubling of demand. Our goal with the 2021 HungerCount report is to not only be able to confirm trends in food bank usage across Canada, but help prepare local food banks for what’s expected to still come.”

Scott said seniors and people with disabilities have been especially hard-hit in Alberta. She said, “we have heard from our member food banks that an increasing number of seniors and individuals with disabilities are accessing food banks more than ever before; particularly in rural areas, who are seeing over 30 per cent of total users falling into this group.”

“Benefits that were available to the rest of the country, like CERB that made such a difference in keeping households afloat just weren’t available to seniors and those wit disabilities. The fact is, foo costs keep rising, and so do the basics like rent and transportation. They just can’t afford to do it all.”

The report found that Canadians on fixed incomes, like seniors and disability benefits, make up 27 per cent of visits across Canada, indicating that the trend in access continues nation-wide.

Scott said Albertans who may not have prior experience navigating social support can safely access their community food banks, despite surges of COVID-19 cases in the province.

She noted, “if there’s one good thing that’s come out of the pandemic, it’s the generosity of our communities. The retailers, the individuals and communities – they’ve really stepped up and continued to support us. We continue to purchase food in order to meet the demands of increased use.”

“We are seeing similar trends in generosity across the country, and we are grateful that people recognize people and families shouldn’t have to make the choice between paying bills and putting food on the table.”

Scott urges any Albertan needed assistance “with making ends meet to reach out to their local food bank.”

Food bank supports include perishable and non-perishable items, menstrual and hygiene products, household essentials, pet food and more. Hampers are also available by calling a local food bank. More details on Food Banks Alberta are available here.