The December celebrations are over and the great frenzy of giving is finished but the food bank and its clients will need help again very soon.
“It's kind of what happens for food banks all across the country. There is incredible support with all the Christmas donations, but what sinks in afterward is how much need there is for food from January to April,” said Suzan Krecsy, executive director at the St. Albert Food Bank.
As a result of increasing rates of unemployment, demands upon the food bank increased in 2016, Krecsy said. The first to seek help had been laid off from oil and gas sector jobs. Next came the people who had been employed in the oil and gas industry support companies. Then the construction industry workers were let go and in December and November a lot of trades people were coming in looking for food aid.
“We gave out over 200 hampers every month since April with a peak in August of 255 hampers,” Krecsy said.
During December a family of five would have received a 250 lb. hamper and many, who were really struggling, would have received an additional hamper with all the fixings for Christmas dinner. Families with children would have received a hamper from the St. Albert Kinettes.
Most of that food will likely be gone by the middle of January, Krecsy said. Families, who still do not have enough money to cover rent, credit card bills and utilities, will need help. Some of those clients will have incomes, but they may not have enough to pay their basic needs.
“January is a tough time for families because they may have bills or other expenses such as a car that broke down. In November 81 per cent of our clients had to pay 30 per cent of their income on rent. In November, 38 per cent of them were unemployed,” she said.
For those clients with deep-seated addiction or mental health issues, the need is ongoing, Krecsy said. She estimated that more than 50 per cent of the people helped suffer from depression or anxiety. Despite the frigid temperatures in early December, some street people remained in St. Albert with inadequate housing needs.
The St. Albert Food Bank and Community Village offers more than food. Clients who visit the food bank may receive the support of counsellors or they may be referred to other agencies such as the St. Albert Seniors Association at Red Willow Place, the Salvation Army, Stop Abuse in Families or Alberta Social Services.
“We are advocates for more help for them perhaps for AISH, for CPP, for Income Support or for references to get help at the seniors centre. We look to see what partnerships we have in the community to help this family,” Krecsy said.
The food bank will also be looking at new ways to offer healthier options to families, while at the same time, easing up on the need to stock meat and other proteins.
“We are looking at different proteins such as beans and pulses. We will need donations of those things as well as fresh and frozen vegetables,” Krecsy said.
Cooking these new foods may be a challenge for some, she said, but recipes will be provided as well as cooking lessons in the community kitchen.
The donations needed for January and upcoming months are straight forward: cereal; food for children’s lunches; peanut butter; canned foods such as soup, tuna and salmon; fruit and vegetables as well as staples and toiletry needs.
Dry goods and canned goods may be donated in the bins in local grocery stores. Fresh food and perishable items as well as cash donations may be dropped off Monday, Wednesday or Friday at the St. Albert Food Bank at 50 Bellerose Drive.
