Letter to the Community
Thank you for your support in 2022.
The Red Deer Food Bank touches the lives of many Central Alberta households. We see the impacts of our work every day. We often receive thankful comments from those we have served. We’ve consoled many people who have asked for help. As the year draws to a close, it seems appropriate to share our gratitude for the support we have received in 2022, and report back to you the difference we – through your contributions – have made.
Our support systems and networks
Our volunteers and staff strive daily to better the lives of Central Albertans, demonstrating their passion for our mission to reduce hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow. Partner food banks in the food bank network and other caring agencies assist us by sharing food through their programs. These programs operate with high standards and integrity, benefitting local communities, addressing societal needs, and supporting our goal of ending regional food insecurity.
Our food collection, conservation, and distribution
Our collection practices, supported by food producers, grocers, and food drives, provide the food that fuels our endeavors. To this end, more than 1.1 million pounds of food was collected from grocery stores, farmers, businesses, and organized events. In addition, individuals and families donated an additional 200,000 pounds of food in our drop boxes or to the food bank directly.
This year's 1.3 million pounds of food donated has enabled us to provide bread and other perishable and nonperishable foods to supplement the diets of 40,800 visitors to our pantry program at the food bank. Further, our hamper program provided a week or more of emergency food supplies to 26,000 people. In addition, we fed thousands of pets through our kibble kitchen.
By December 31st, we will have helped more than 70,000 people that came to us at one time or another during the year.
We also achieved some milestones. We diverted foods not suitable for human consumption to feed animals. This created a zero-waste outcome, reducing our operating costs and ensuring everything donated was used, first by people and then by animals. We reached this milestone by developing better practices and new relationships with farmers and agricultural producers.
Our social enterprise initiatives
We also secured mobile food service equipment and met many smiling faces at markets and events in the area. This form of social enterprise was not entirely new to us. We held community BBQs pre-pandemic, and have returned to this activity with focus and intentional delivery. We plan to develop recurring food service revenue to offset the decline in monetary donations in recent years.
With the support of the Rotary Club of Red Deer East, the Government of Alberta Community Facility Enhancement Program, and previous donors that restricted funds to Kitchen or Capital improvements, we developed the Rotary Club of Red Deer East Community Kitchen. We also made some needed repairs to our facility and improved some of our operational systems.
We look forward to offering programs supporting culinary and life skill development in the new year. We also look forward to bringing community members together with food to share our diverse food palettes and culinary experiences to build community and further stretch the utility of donated food stocks.
Our people
It is an absolute joy to work for an organization that personifies the slogan: "Working together, so no one goes hungry." Our board of directors and management team is focused on what the community needs to thrive. We work diligently to raise the funds that provide the tools and resources to make it happen.
I am grateful to work for an organization that helps build community capacity for food security. This allows me the privilege of having a modest impact on the health of our community. I am inspired by the hard work and dedication of our staff and volunteers who step forward to address those challenges daily—often without fanfare. Thank you!
Our continuing commitment
Finally, in this season of giving, I'm humbled by the generosity and giving that has occurred in these very trying financial times. Inflation is felt at the pump, at the grocery store, at home in our utility bills… and it impacts us all. I have such deep admiration for everyone who gives what they can to make a difference in the life of another that they may not even know.
I'm honored to help steward the resources we have been given to address the real need in our area. I will continue to find and secure grants to fund our good work and develop the social enterprise to reduce our dependency on goodwill during economic downturns.
Our outlook of the coming year
2023 will continue to be very difficult for many people that have not seen their income increase to the proportion that inflation has. We are seeing more homeowners and dual-income families struggling to make ends meet. We will continue to be challenged by the demand that has outstripped the availability of donated foods. We will rely on more food drives and donated dollars to keep up with the trending level of need.
I share this reflection in a spirit of gratitude, acceptance, appreciation, and humility. Thank you, Red Deer, for being our inspiration, and everyone for contributing to this society. Together, we will work together so no one goes hungry.
Merry Christmas. May you have a very prosperous and Happy New Year.
Mitch Thomson, Executive Director
