Alberta faced a 94 percent increase in food bank visits last year compared to 2019

As anyone buying groceries or paying the monthly utility bills can attest, costs for most things
have skyrocketed, with each year seemingly rising higher than before. From that, it shouldn’t be
surprising that growing numbers of Canadians are struggling and relying more on the existing
services to help.
Each year, Food Banks Canada compares the usage data from March, collected from food
banks across the country, to see the trends for that given year. In the early fall, the compiled
data, called the Hunger Count, goes live. For the last few years, the increased usage at food
banks has been staggering, and unfortunately, that trend didn’t slow down in 2023.
“It’s very, very bad,” said Food Bank Coordinator Tara Bartsch. “As of March 2023, 18.4 percent
of Canadians were living with food insecurities, and Canada had over 1.9 million visits to food
banks.” Nationally, there was a thirty-two percent increase in visits from 2022 to 2023, but
compared to 2019, the increase is 78.5 percent.
Provincially, it momentarily gets a bit better before getting much worse. “There were 174,311
visits to Alberta food banks in March of last year, which was an 11.9 percent increase from
2022,” said Bartsch. The year-to-year increase was less than the National increase, but the
difference from 2019 to 2023 is where things take a turn. “There was a 94.1 percent increase in
food bank visits in Alberta from 2019’s numbers to 2023’s numbers,” she said.
What’s even worse is that the comparison between March 2019 and March 2023 in Alberta
wasn’t even the highest percentage change in the country. Quebec saw a 97.8 percent
difference between the two years, and Ontario had a 100.6 percent change, the highest of all
provinces and territories. “It’s just continuing to go up, and it’s not going to get better,” said
Bartsch.
National and provincial numbers are a high-level snapshot of what’s happening in the country,
but when one pinches the screen and zooms down to the local level, a complete picture can be
seen. The Whitecourt Food Bank provides hampers to 200 families on average. Each family
registered can access a hamper fill six times a year, and staff aim to provide two weeks’ worth
of groceries per hamper.
With not even two months completed into 2024, Bartsch said some of the families they serve
have already used several of their fills. “After Christmas, it’s always higher for people needing
help, but usually it comes down a bit. March is coming, and it hasn’t come down yet. People are
struggling. They get six fills a year, and for some people, that’s almost gone for this year
already.”
She said high bills and inflated grocery prices are cited as reasons this year has been so hard.
“We are seeing double-income families struggling to put food on the table. They rent, and their
bills are insanely high. Do you pay the power bill or feed your kids? So, then they come here,
and we feed them. It’s not just low-income families. Families of four and five are struggling to
feel themselves too.”
Nationally, single people continue to be the highest users of food banks, with over 40 percent
reported in March 2023. Two-parent families are also on an upward trend, rising just over two

percent, from 18.8 percent in 2019 to 21 percent in 2023. “It’s hard to keep up with those
families. Our freezers are low all the time,” said Bartsch.
Higher usage has led to emptier shelves lately, with some items hard to keep on hand. “Shelf-
stable foods that can help stretch a meal, like tuna or Hamburger Helper or things like cereal,
are what we lack most,” she said. Toiletries are also scarce, with deodorant,
shampoo/conditioner, and body wash baskets empty.
The food bank also offers non-food items to help fill gaps. “If you don’t have food in your
kitchen, you probably don’t have laundry soap or toiletries. Why would you spend extra money
on laundry detergent if you can’t afford food?” Bartsch said they also recently started a laundry
program asking for powdered detergent. “How do you get a job, or maintain one, if you can’t
afford to do laundry and have clean clothes? No one wants to send their kids to school in dirty
clothes. We want to try and help with that.” Non-food items come solely through donations
because food bank funds are used for buying food only.
For those who need to access the food bank but can’t make it during the daytime, the
Whitecourt Food Bank now has night access once a month. “Every second Thursday of the
month, we will be open for hamper fills from 5-8 pm. Perishable boxes won’t be available then,
but hamper fills will be,” explained Bartsch. The next night will be on March 14.
To keep the shelves well stocked, the Whitecourt Food Bank relies heavily on community
support. “We are grant and donation only. Everything here is purchased through grants or
donations. If we don’t have that support in the community, then we don’t have a food bank.” She
said the groups, businesses and residents who support the food bank make everything
possible. “We couldn’t do any of this without their amazing generosity.”
The Whitecourt Food Bank has several events on the books to help boost donations. On March
15 and 16, the food bank van will be at Walmart for National Food Bank Day. Staff will be there
on Friday and Saturday, gratefully collecting donations. They are also doing bi-weekly Meat
Draws at the Crown and Anchor. Wellspring and the Food Bank will take turns being the
recipient each week. “The money will go towards adding to fills. I’m hoping that we can increase
the hamper fills from six a year to seven, or maybe even eight, just to give more food.”
On Saturday, May 25, at 1 pm, the food bank is holding a free World Hunger Day barbecue and
will be accepting donations. “Eagle River Casino is donating hamburgers, hot dogs and smokies
and Pembina is donating the use of their barbecue and supplying us with juice and water.”
Bartsch said she hopes to have gardeners on hand to teach about growing food at home. Food
bank tours will also be available.
Food bank staff will also be handing out Teen Bags at this year’s Party in the Park event. “Millar
Western was a diamond sponsor and gave us their table. The bags will have some shelf-stable
foods, hopefully some fresh vegetables and fruit, and info on mental health resources in town,”
said Bartsch. Perishable boxes are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday. No ID is needed,
but they go fast. Bartsch recommends getting in line at the food bank by 11:30 am. Hamper fills
are available on the same days and require proof of residency (bill payment) and government
ID.
Those wanting to donate can call 780-778-2341 to set up a drop-off time. The Food Bank is
open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 11 am until 2 pm. Bartsch stresses that no one

should be embarrassed about needing help. “We are here to help you. If you are struggling,
please come see us.” Anyone with questions about accessing hampers is encouraged to call
the number above.