Whitecourt Food Bank proudly serving Whitecourt for over 20 years

By Quinn Fisher

As with any origin story, the Whitecourt Food Bank began with simple beginnings in the ’80s. Starting with a single shelf in the municipal building, as years passed, the food bank moved downstairs which increased their food capacity to three shelves. Currently, it’s located in the CRC building across from Hilltop High School.

Whitecourt Food Bank Manager Lori Coffey said, “Anyone who needs the food bank can access it as long as they live in Whitecourt and you can access food hampers six times a year. We do allow people to come and take any produce or perishables that we have without having to go through the intake process. We normally leave this in the lobby for people to access, but now I post on Whitecourt Community Facebook if I have extra, and people can just come to grab a bag.” Coffey described the food bank as an emergency service, not a budgetary means. “We rely solely on donations to continue to meet the needs of our community when everyone is facing a crisis.”

To access the Whitecourt Food Bank, an individual or family must have ID for every person in the household and proof of residency. This can be in the form of a lease agreement or utility bill. The food bank assists clients Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the last intake at 1:45 p.m. Food bank recipients can expect to get two weeks worth of food. This includes bread, meat, milk, juice, fruit, and vegetables with the aim of providing a balanced diet.

With the ongoing CoVid-19 outbreak, the CRC building is currently closed to the public. Coffey explained individuals/households can still access the food bank, “We are doing intakes through the glass door then we leave food outside. We ask that if you have had no previous visits to call 780-778-2341 to do your initial intake setup before visiting.”

The Whitecourt Food Bank will continue to provide an invaluable service to residents for years to come thanks to generous donations made by non-profit organizations like the Rotary Club which recently did a  successful food drive ensuring the food bank shelves remain stocked for those in need during these uncertain times. This is just one of many examples of the generosity and solidarity Whitecourt is known for. We will ride this wave together.