Calgary Food Bank’s ‘Stuff a Bus’ celebrates 30th anniversary

One of the biggest events of the year for the Calgary Food Bank is celebrating a milestone.

The annual Stuff A Bus To Feed Calgary food drive will take place for its 30th year on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tomorrow, we celebrate the 30th anniversary of Stuff a Bus! Head to your local Calgary Co-op store between 10 am and 4 pm and help us "stuff" city transit buses with non-perishable food items. Together we can fight hunger!#StuffABus #YYCCommunity #CalgaryFoodBank pic.twitter.com/3KaVvKQQXa

— Calgary Food Bank (@CalgaryFoodBank) November 18, 2022

A total of 21 Calgary Transit buses will be parked outside Calgary Co-op stores with hundreds of volunteers on hand to collect non-perishable food items.

“For more than 30 years we’ve been stuffing the bus to help the Calgary Food Bank and it’s a great way to kick off the season for kicking because the demand for food is still through the roof so people are able to make a difference when they’re out shopping for their own groceries,” said food bank spokesperson, Shauna Ogston.

“We know that people are struggling and not only those who need the food. But [also] those who we are able to donate who have to cut back on expenses like donating foods and funds to the food bank,” she added.

“We’ve been very lucky to be able to meet the crazy demand that we’ve had at the food bank because of the generosity.”

Ogsten adds that although demand for food has skyrocketed recently it hasn’t reached a crisis point.

“Granted, with the pandemic and even the downturn in the economy that happened before the pandemic we were serving unprecedented numbers. And we thought that coming out of the pandemic maybe things would stabilize,” she said. “But we know that every can that is donated, every dollar is going to go a long way in making a difference because we are feeding 1,000 people a day.”

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However, with inflation and a continually rising cost of living, Ogsten says the food bank is keeping an eye on things.

“The need is great with the inflation and the cost of food and other expenses people are having a hard time getting by,” she said. “But you know we’ve been in business for 40 years so we’re constantly watching the trends, we’re constantly watching what’s going on in the community and working with so many food industry partners to make sure we can continue to meet the needs.”

Ogsten says the food bus event is not just a nice gesture, but essential, given that Calgarians need access to healthy and nutritious food this holiday season.

“It is vital, especially at this time of year there’s a lot of seasonal employment that ends, and as we all know inflation is hitting everybody’s wallet. So it’s not only just a nicety, it’s actually making a difference no matter how you choose to donate,” she said.

Nearby areas of Airdrie, High River, and Strathmore and their designated Co-op will be collecting donations as well.

There are 30 Co-op locations in Calgary where you can go to donate non-perishable food items, for those who cannot attend in person can donate funds online on the Co-op website.

–With files from Dan Carson