Edmonton Food Bank opens new depot as more Albertans are in need

The Edmonton Food Bank is celebrating the opening of a new depot and food pantry to help feed those who need it — but say the celebration is bittersweet as more space means more hungry Edmontonians.

“If I was on a fixed income, or if I was low-income, how would I meet those needs? and I think most people would understand that it’s a very fine line for people,” said Marjorie Bencz, executive director of the Edmonton Food Bank.

With inflation and grocery costs at an all time high, officials say the new space is needed.

In 2022, a survey from Food Banks Canada found that Alberta saw a 34 per cent jump in people needing services compared to the year before. Edmonton food bank officials say their client numbers have doubled since the pandemic and that doesn’t include demand from other charities.

“During the peak of the pandemic — we were serving about 17,000 people a month through the hamper program — now we’re serving 30-35-thousand people each month. Plus we have more community groups and schools coming to us for food each month.

While those on fixed incomes — government support — and those without rent subsidies are in need of help, food bank organizers say they’re seeing more new people come through the door, including refugees from Ukraine.

“You just need to talk to anyone coming out of the grocery store. More and more people are feeling the impact of increased costs.”