File photo of the Lethbridge Food Bank. (Lethbridge News Now)

By Justin Goulet

Lethbridge Food Bank aiming to boost accessibility as busy season nears

Nov 2, 2021 | 6:45 AM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – As the weather gets cooler and 2022 nears, the Lethbridge Food Bank is preparing to see a rise in client numbers.

Executive Director of the food bank, Mac Nichol, told LNN that “normally, we see a sharp rise during December anyways, usually about twice our clients.”

“A lot of people access the food banks for only one month a year and that being the December month, so we’ll see a normal rise there. We are foreseeing it possibly being higher than we even anticipated and then not coming back down in January as much as we’ve seen [before].”

LNN asked Nichol his thoughts on the 2021 HungerCount, a report by Food Banks Canada that tracks usage of food banks across the nation. Alberta saw one of the highest rates in the country, according to the report.

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

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Much like what Danielle McIntyre, Executive Director of Lethbridge’s other food bank, Interfaith told LNN, Nichol said a reduction in COVID-19 supports like CERB have resulted in a rise in client numbers.

He noted that, “many people that need that support have been trying to come out to the food bank to get that support and we’re seeing a sharp rise here leading into the Christmas season and 2022.”

READ MORE: Interfaith Food Bank bracing for boost in users in 2022

Nichol remarked that over the last four months or so, the Lethbridge Food Bank has seen an increase in new clients, “where we haven’t seen these faces before.”

“They’re not normal people that have dealt with the food bank in the past, which has shown that either there’s a large group that is just accessing our services for the first time or that they’re needing to come back after a very long, extended period.”

MOBILE SERVICES

Nichol believes one issue in Lethbridge is access to food bank services, “since we have two large food banks that are very close and central in Lethbridge.”

To broaden that accessibility, the Lethbridge Food Bank has started a mobile food support service. Nichol explained that’s “where we go out into the community once a week and set up a pop-up food bank where people can access the food closer to their home.”

Anyone wishing to utilize the mobile service can be existing or new clients of the food bank. All users need to do is show up at the posted location, which can be seen here, starting at 5:00 p.m. on the posted day.

Those accessing the mobile support will need to provide their first and last name, their postal code and an email if they wish to receive notifications about future dates for the service.

Additionally, for those hoping to help out the Lethbridge Food Bank as the busy season ramps up can contact the organization at 403-320-1879. Nichol said they’re looking for volunteers to put together hampers and staff at the food bank always strive to create a fun environment for volunteers.

More details about the Lethbridge Food Bank are available here.