The most important food drive in the 32-year history of the St. Albert Food Bank came back a success. Executive director Suzan Krecsy was happy to report that more than 28,000 kilograms of food was donated during the Sept. 17 drive, besting her goal by more than 1,000 kg.
There was another 5,500 kg donated during the Thanksgiving period, bringing the total of recent major collections to 33,500 kg, or 74,000 lbs.
“You know, 74,000 lbs. coming in in this economy … that’s amazing. I’m very, very happy,” she exclaimed.
The sum has allowed the food bank to better manage the crisis of epic demand that it has been dealing with since the economic downturn since 2014. Massive unemployment and the Wood Buffalo fire combined with other factors to bring the food bank’s clientele on a gradual upswing to its current state where demand is twice what it was a year ago. Krecsy noted that the number of families being served here in this city is still greater than 200 per month.
Because increasing demand also comes with a correlating decrease in supply, as fewer people are able to donate, the food bank had to drop the size of a standard hamper to about 60 per cent of what it usually was.
The food bank’s policy states that they must maintain a six-month buffer of food stores on the shelves but the actual amount had slipped down to a five-month supply before the food drive. It’s back up to six months now and that means good news all around.
“The hampers … we’ve been able to bump up the poundage as well,” she continued. “It just makes you feel a little bit better. We’re really happy with what we’re able to give out now.”
She offered her great appreciation to all donors and the volunteers and staff from the Red Willow Community Church who worked together to make the event a smooth success.
Krecsy is now looking toward the last few months of the year that often result in another spike in demand. She noted that plans are in the works for the food bank’s annual holiday banquet during the week before Christmas with its major hamper delivery following right after. Everything should be much the same as it was last year “but we’re expecting more families.”
In the end, she thanks St. Albertans for always coming through when help is needed.
“We feel really lucky. We’re really well supported here.”
