It is a week before Christmas and Edmonton’s Food Bank is concerned that their Festive Campaign goals will not be met. Donations given at this time of the year allows the Food Bank to provide community meals as well as food hampers for individuals and families. Additionally, the success or failure of the campaign sets the tone of services in 2020; when holidays are finished, Edmonton’s Food Bank continues to keep our community fed.

The Festive Campaign goals are 370,000 kilograms of food and $2,000,000. Of these goals, Edmonton’s Food Bank has raised 177,220 kilograms of food (only 48% of the campaign) as opposed to 2018 in which over 201,494 kilograms of food was given at the same point. The monetary donations are sitting at $843,696, which is only 42% of the goal.

“We are asking our donors to step up, as they have so generously in the past, to support Edmonton’s Food Bank. It is only with their generosity that we are able to provide the kind of support to the community that we do. We do not receive funding from any level of government for our programs and food purchases,” says Marjorie Bencz, Executive Director of Edmonton’s Food Bank. “We are very concerned for 2020 if we cannot make our goals as we need to continue to help our community moving forward.”

Edmonton’s Food Bank operates year-round, providing food each and every day of the year – it is more than just a holiday hamper. Edmonton’s Food Bank has seen a surge in need over the last few years. The number of people accessing the Food Bank’s hamper programs increased by 50% between 2015 and 2018.

“What we are able to provide in 2020 is a direct result of the donations that come in, now, during the Festive Campaign,” reminds Marjorie Bencz, “so, the generosity of the public is vital and appreciated.”

Monetary donations are gratefully accepted online; over the phone at 780.425.2133; text FEEDYEG to 20222; or by cheque (mail to PO BOX 62061, Edmonton, AB T5M 4B5). All major grocery stores and City of Edmonton Fire Stations accept non-perishable food donations. If you are planning to attend an upcoming event that's collecting for us, you can bring your donation there as well.