Spike in demand leading to increased pressure at food bank

CALGARY (660 NEWS) – Calgary’s food bank is seeing an increase in demand while it steadily falls in other areas of the province.

The need for food bank services has shot up ten per cent over the past year as people move to Calgary but are faced with fewer job prospects.

“It’s easier to try and get two or three people into an apartment or whatever you can do to try and make it past, arguably, one of the most difficult times economically, socially that we have seen in the city of Calgary,” said Calgary Food Bank CEO James McAra.

He adds Calgarians have run out of resources after being laid off and often don’t qualify for EI.

WATCH: Economic downturn affects the Calgary Food Bank

Food isn’t the only issue for the food bank as help is also needed for several other organizations.

“The food bank is part of a web of services,” said McAra. “Part of our obligation is to ensure that people get connected to services and we know that the sooner we connect people to services that they didn’t know existed, the better that family and that individual is going to be.”

McAra believes governments need to stop tinkering and help the poor and stop making changes to things like employment insurance.

“We need to look at the supports we said are part of the Calgary, Alberta, Canada experience and we need to make sure they’re not first on the chopping blocks but also that they’re available to people in different ways when community and economy changes.”

The food bank is now looking to the community to help support them and other charities, amidst the different decisions being made by the provincial government.

“The charitable sector does not have the resources just to take over where programs have been cut or funding has been reduced. We’re in a situation where the support at the community level is essential.”

McAra says you can donate food, money or volunteer to help out various organizations in the city.