Annual ‘Stuff A Bus’ Food Drive kicks off this weekend in Calgary

The holiday season is upon us, and for the Calgary Food Bank, it’s the busiest time of the year.

This weekend, a couple of annual initiatives are kicking off: The Stuff A Bus food drive, with the help of Calgary Transit and Calgary Co-op, and the Mayor’s Food Drive.

Food bank CEO Melissa From says the holidays are crucial for the organization.

“So about 70 per cent of the funds that we raise every year that feed those in need in our city all year long, are raised in the next six weeks,” she said.

From says that the holidays used to be the busiest time of year for the bank to supply food to Calgarians.

However, demand has increased so much that they now operate at that level constantly.

“Unfortunately, poverty and food insecurity aren’t seasonal, and so folks need us every day,” she explained. “We no longer are seeing those spikes because we simply don’t have room and don’t have capacity to feed any more people than were feeding right now.”

Director of Communications and Loyalty for Calgary Co-op, Sage Pullen McIntosh, says last year’s stuff a bus was very successful — it raised 72,000 pounds of food and $80,000.

Pullen says the success of the food drive can largely be attributed to the community, and volunteers.

“Girl Guides who are coming out and helping us unstuff the buses; that visible sign of that transit bus in front of Calgary Co-op reminds people that ‘Oh, this is a great time to give,” she said.

Anyone looking to get involved has a variety of options, according to Pullen McIntosh.

“Whether its a pre-packaged food bag, whether they want to make a donation at the till, buy an item from the food banks wish list, or donate online — there’s a lot of different ways to give and support,” she said.