When community members come to the Community Kitchen Program of Calgary for support, they are given a hand-up, not just a hand-out. This principle guides the organization’s programs, which span nearly every neighbourhood in Calgary through a network of over 217 non-profit partners.
Many, if not most of, our members do experience food insecurity, so they look forward to ‘Grocery Thursdays.’ The healthy food items provided by Second Harvest are very much appreciated, as generally these are the most expensive and unaffordable, but to most of us are basic staples.
Food is the centre of everything we do at Covenant House. It is the first thing we offer a youth when they come through our doors, and it’s what fuels our young people as they work hard for a brighter future.
Every week a team of staff, students and family members work together to sort, package and distribute 5,000 to 6,000 lbs. of produce and up to 2,000 lbs. of bakery products. We regularly hear how meaningful this support is at a time when food prices are putting an incredible strain on families. It is because of Second Harvest that we are able to make this difference for families in the Winnipeg School Division.