COVID-19 decimated the Calgary Food Bank's depot system. Now it's slowly coming back

Plantains, rice, flour — dozens of residents lined up to get the basics at a church in Calgary's far northeast where help is delivered by an informal group of volunteers.

The generosity was literally overflowing: some people struggled with the bins, opting to drag them across the gymnasium floor toward the exit.

"This is a big, big relief," said Catherine Nformi, one of the first to pick up a hamper loaded with basic food staples.

"Everything is so expensive and with a bigger family, I'm so grateful."

A new food bank depot was expected at this location last summer, but those plans fell through due mostly to staffing changes and a breakdown in communication. The food bank has since apologized to the community.

The pandemic forced the Calgary Food Bank's community partners to shutter most of their depots. The food bank along its partners are now rebuilding that network.

In the meantime, the church and neighbourhood volunteers are helping, with people donating food and money.

Some people in the far northeast communities of Redstone, Cityscape and Cornerstone have been struggling since the onset of COVID-19. Some are no longer working. Others have seen their hours reduced and their savings dwindle — all a time when food and other costs are rising. 

The communities include new Canadians, immigrants and refugees, some of whom can't easily access food banks or other support agencies.

The Genesis Centre in the northeast has a food bank depot, but it's about nine kilometres away and transit service is not always an option. Calgary's main food bank location in the southeast is 30 kilometres away. 

"In the community of Redstone we found out that people that may be in need of food … have lots of hiccups in accessing food," said Grace Udofia, a volunteer with the Oasis of Grace Family and Multicultural Centre.

"Imagine a mother that has need, has to dress their child, push a trolley and carry a food hamper and stay on a bus for almost two hours. That's a lot of barriers to get food to eat.… So we decided to come together to provide food for people in this community."

Udofia, who sits on the centre's non-profit board, thought they had a deal with the Calgary Food Bank to set up a depot in their community this past summer. 

The CEO of the food bank offered a mea culpa.