CALGARY FOOD BANK Annual Report. Marking 30 years of service to the Calgary Community

CALGARY FOOD BANK 2012-2013 Annual Report Marking 30 years of service to the Calgary Community YEAR IN REVIEW “ Over the course of the last 30 ye...
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CALGARY FOOD BANK

2012-2013 Annual Report Marking 30 years of service to the Calgary Community

YEAR IN REVIEW



Over the course of the last 30 years, it is neighbourly spirit and community pride that provides the Calgary Food Bank with the resources to feed hundreds of thousands of people. We might not yet have an answer to ‘how long’ the Food Bank will be here, but through collaboration with other partner agencies, we are working toward long-term solutions.



We do know, however, that food is essential.

— James McAra, Chief Executive Officer

MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT AND CEO, James McAra

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, Richard Alexander

2013 was a memorable year for the Calgary Food Bank. Not only did we mark the end of three decades of service to the Calgary community, we were challenged by the devastating June floods.

Thirty years in Calgary has created strong and lasting relationships that were put to the test. This past year saw amazing generosity locally, nationally and even internationally.

The summer is traditionally a quieter time of the year for us, from staff vacations to client requests. Then the water came. We were immediately called upon to help with emergency food supplies when the rising waters forced 1,200 Drop In Centre clients from their downtown facility on Friday June 21. Then we came to the aid of central and southern Alberta communities through their evacuations and rebuilding in the following weeks. I am pleased to report that our systems and processes are strong and flexible, proven by this time of crisis. Last year we promised to ensure healthy food was a part of our vibrant city. A food handling and movement audit led to exciting changes in the acceptance and delivery of quality foods. As a result, we are meeting 100% of the Canada Food Guide recommendations in all of our hamper types, all thanks to quality food donations, forward thinking volunteers and staff, as well as engaged partners.

When the Flood 2013 hit our community, support came from around the world to help the Food Bank. The staff, volunteers and donors in turn rallied to support the important work local organizations were doing to help the families and individuals evacuated by the floods. This strong bond was also witnessed at the time capsule interment that marked our 30th anniversary year. The event was attended by many of our long-time supporters, compassionate volunteers and visionary leaders. Original staffer, Reverend Carl Deline, who spoke at this event, said it best “that when people believe in you and believe you operate out of integrity, they will support you.”

30th ANNIVERSARY PHOTO GALLERY 1983 - 2013

OVER THE YEARS, THE CALGARY FOOD BANK HAS GROWN FROM A SMALL NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION IN A CHURCH BASEMENT RUN BY FOUR VOLUNTEERS, INTO A MILLION DOLLAR CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION IN A 60,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING WITH 9,000 VOLUNTEERS.



I was laid off recently and the bills have been almost overwhelming. I am so grateful for all your volunteers’ and staffs’ kindness and the enormous generosity of all Calgary’s citizens. When I was in line I was almost touched to tears. Opening the bags was like Christmas.



CLIENT STORIES “My husband and I and our two children were in a position recently to have to go to the Food Bank. It was our first time and hopefully our last. It was a hard day. But I wanted to commend all of the workers and volunteers who were there on Dec. 14. Your compassion and friendly conversation and smiles made a hard day a little easier. I can’t thank you enough. Merry Christmas.”

My first visit to the Food Bank was extremely difficult for me because I felt like I had to beg. It was a very hard time for me. However, the people there were very accepting and caring, which made the experience there a bit easier. It is so important to donate to the Food Bank because there are many people out there that aren’t able to plan and save for the unexpected. When catastrophe hits, it is important for people — like me — to have a place to turn to.

“Your generous hearts touched us in a way that is beyond words when we had to turn to the Calgary Food Bank for help. Thank you so much for being there for us in our time of need.”



In 2001, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was horrible. I wondered how I was going to manage because my family (my husband and two children) depend on me to be the bread-winner for the family. I called the Calgary Food Bank and was able to receive hampers with necessities for a cancer patient. I can’t thank them enough because without their help, I couldn’t have done it. They eased my stress, the thought of knowing that I was getting help really helped me to heal. I can safely say that the Food Bank is there for all of us in need and the staff are a real nice bunch of people to speak with.



“ The volunteers and staff at the Calgary Food Bank make those in need feel like the world is alright and that people are good. ”

CALGARY FOOD BANK

2013 FAST FACTS

Community Owned. Community Supported.

W W W. C A L G A RY F O O D B A N K . C O M

You asked us to be proactive in addressing ‘why’ people are experiencing food insecurity. We work diligently with local agencies to ensure our clients receive the appropriate support and direction. This is why

82%

OF CLIENTS VISITED 3 TIMES OR FEWER IN THEIR LIFETIME

One in five parents in Canada said they skipped meals to ensure there was enough food for their children.

One = Five Every $1 dollar donated allows us to distribute $5 dollars worth of food. This means a donation of

$64.00

129,948

families and individuals from ALL neighbourhoods and ALL quadrants of our city used the Food Bank last year.

allows us to feed a family of four for one week

All of our hampers meet Canada’s Food Guide. Empty calories should not fill empty bellies. Our J.P. Morgan Food Link Program provides food to 110 community agencies and programs that help people find success in making their lives more secure.

42%

of our clients are children. That is the equivalent of filling the seats of the Saddledome three times.

41%

THE PERCENTAGE OF CLIENTS WHO HAVE ONLY USED THE FOOD BANK ONCE.

CALGARY FOOD BANK 5000-11ST SE Calgary, AB T2H 2Y5 Phone: 403.253.2059 Fax: 403.259.4240 www.facebook.com/calgaryfoodbank @calgaryfoodbank

How 73,505 hampers were distributed:

WE DISTRIBUTED 16,687,615 LBS OR 7,569,375 KGS OF FOOD ENOUGH TO FILL

1% 1%

208.5 EIGHTEEN-WHEELERS

6%

25%

42%

Family Emergency Family Emergency Hampers - 30, 887 Hampers - 30,887 Individual Emergency Individual Emergency Hampers - 18, 435 Hampers - 18,435 Hampers for the Hampers for the Homeless - 18, 326 Homeless - 18,326

Baby Hampers Baby Hampers - 4,0454, 045 Prenatal Hampers Prenatal Hampers - 920 - 920 Welcome Home Welcome Home Hampers - 505 Hampers - 505

25%

The cost of food should not exceed 15% of the household budget. Our Regional Distribution Program, g , shares food with over 50 Food Banks across Western Canada to assist in crisis situations and disaster relief. The Calgary Food Bank is neither a government nor United Way agency. We rely solely on the generous support of our community.

110 amazing volunteers give their time each day

6,121 people volunteered last year for a total of 112,330 hours. Two-thirds of the Food Bank is powered by volunteers!

But for low-income Albertans, 15%

it can cost as much as

32%

of their monthly budget.*

32%

A minimum wage of $9.95/HOUR earns a full-time employee approximately $17,910.00 /YEAR before taxes, often with no benefits. *vibrantcalgary.com/vibrant-initiatives/poverty-costs-20

During the devastating floods in Southern Alberta, your generous support provided TWICE as much food and funds as would have regularly been needed during the summer months. Thank you.

Numbers reflect the Food Bank’s fiscal year of September 1, 2012 to August 31, 2013.

CALGARY FOOD BANK FINANCIAL STATEMENTS August 31, 2013

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CALGARY INTER-FAITH FOOD BANK SOCIETY We have audited the accompanying financial statements of Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank Society [the "Society"], which comprise the statements of financial position as at August 31, 2013 and 2012, and September 1, 2011, and the statement of operations, changes in net assets and cash flows for the years ended August 31, 2013 and 2012, and a summary of significant accounting policies and other explanatory information. MANAGEMENT'S RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Management is responsible for the preparation and fair presentation of these financial statements in accordance with Canadian standards for not-for-profit organizations, and for such internal control as management determines is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. AUDITORS' RESPONSIBILITY Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audit. We conducted our audit in accordance with Canadian generally accepted auditing standards. Those standards require that we comply with ethical requirements and plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free from material misstatement. An audit involves performing procedures to obtain audit evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. The procedures selected depend on the auditors' judgement, including the assessment of the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error. In making those risk assessments, the auditors consider internal control relevant to the entity's preparation and fair presentation of the financial statements in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the entity's internal control. An audit also includes evaluating the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall presentation of the financial statements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified audit opinion. BASIS FOR QUALIFIED OPINION In common with many charitable organizations, the Society derives revenue from cash and in-kind donations, the completeness of which is not susceptible to satisfactory audit verification. Accordingly, our verification of these revenues was limited to the amounts recorded in the records of the Society and we were not able to determine whether any adjustments for unrecorded donations revenue might be necessary to revenues, excess of revenue over expenses, assets and net assets. QUALIFIED OPINION In our opinion, except for the possible effects of the matter described in the Basis for Qualified Opinion paragraph, the financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of the Society as at August 31, 2013 and 2012, and September 1, 2011, and the results of its operations and its cash flows for the years ended August 31, 2013 and 2012 in accordance with Canadian accounting standards for not-for-profit organizations. Chartered Accountants: Ernst & Young, LLP



Calgary, Canada, October 29, 2013.

STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION As of August 31, 2013

ASSETS Current Cash and cash equivalents Marketable investments [note 3] Other receivables Prepaid expenses Total current assets Property, plan and equipments, net [note 4]

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS Current Accounts payable Current portion of loan facility [note 7] Deferred operating donations Total current liabilities Deferred capital contribution [note 6] Loan facility [note 7] Total liabilities Net assets Unrestricted Internally restricted [note 8] Total net assets

See accompanying notes

August 31, 2013 $

August 31, 2012 $

September 1, 2011 $

2,844,340 2,114,403 27,367 76,408 5,062,519 5,685,658 10,748,177

1,707,304 1,985,412 45,493 134,185 3,872,394 5,581,026 9,453,420

3,636,300 2,780,574 71,058 93,040 6,580,972 532,572 7,113,544

206,624 85,000 100,721 392,345 266,110 1,219,882 1,878,338

196,383 85,000 50,000 331,383 303,856 1,467,143 2,102,382

328,481 — 50,000 378,481 337,624 — 716,105

2,130,816 6,739,023 8,869,839 10,748,177

829,991 6,521,047 7,351,038 9,453,420

5,113,803 1,283,636 6,397,439 7,113,544

STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS As of August 31, 2013

Net assets, beginning of year Excess (deficiency) of revenue over expenses Contributions to legacy fund Deferred capital contributions Investment in property, plant and equipment Amortization Net assets, end of year See accompanying notes

Unrestricted $

Internally Restricted $

2013 $

2012 $

829,990 1,518,801 (75,596) 50,780 (416,643) 223,484 2,130,816

6,521,048 — 75,596 (50,780) 416,643 (223,484) 6,739,023

7,351,038 1,518,801 — — — — 8,869,839

6,397,438 891,599 62,000 — — — 7,351,037

STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS As of August 31, 2013

REVENUE Contributions Food donations-in-kind [note 10] Non-food donations-in-kind FCSS grant-City of Calgary Investment income Milk program Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment Other receipts

EXPENSES Food donation-in-kind [note 10] Non-food donations-in-kind Food purchases Administration and finance Operating costs [note 9] Client services Development and fundraising Communications and resource development Interest on long-term [note 7] Excess of revenue over expenses before the following Amortization of deferred contributions [note 6] Amortization Excess of revenue over expenses See accompanying notes

2013 $

2012 $

7,111,381 29,288,117 133,051 72,243 88,379 — — 48,123 36,741,294

6,304,363 24,702,734 175,479 72,244 86,367 14,525 2,500 81,705 31,439,918

29,288,117 133,051 907,162 829,081 3,297,536 381,238 53,418 69,216 40,190 34,999,010 1,742,285 88,526 (312,010) (223,484) 1,518,801

24,702,734 175,479 1,014,076 821,537 2,970,900 351,707 145,987 87,241 57,228 30,326,890 1,113,028 97,368 (318,796) (221,429) 891,599

STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS As of August 31, 2013

2013 $

2012 $

1,518,801

891,599

(88,526) 312,010 — 1,742,285

(97,368) 318,796 (2,500) 1,110,527

Net change in non-cash working capital balances related to operations [note 11] Cash provided by operating activities

7,875 1,750,160

647,483 1,758,010

INVESTING ACTIVITIES Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment Property, plant and equipment acquired Cash used in investing activities

— (416,643) (416,643)

2,500 (5,367,250) (5,364,750)

50,780 — — (247,261)

63,600 62,000 1,700,000 (147,857)

(196,481)

1,677,743

1,137,036 1,707,304 2,844,340

(1,928,996) 3,636,300 1,707,304

OPERATING ACTIVITIES Excess of revenues over expenses (all funds) Add (deduct) items not involving cash Amortization of deffered capital contributions Amortization Gain of disposal of Property, Plant and Equipment

FINANCING ACTIVITIES Deferred contributions toward capital costs Contributions to legacy fund Proceeds from loan facility Repayment of loan facility Cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net increase in cash during the year Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year Cash and cash equivalents, end of year

See accompanying notes

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CALGARY INTER-FAITH FOOD BANK SOCIETY August 31, 2013 1. OPERATIONS The Calgary Inter-Faith Food Bank Society [the “Society”] is registered under the Societies Act of the Province of Alberta and is a registered charity and as such is exempt from income tax and may issue tax deductible receipts to donors. The Society’s function is the gathering and distribution of quality emergency food to those in need. 2. SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES [a] Basis of Presentation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Part III of the Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants [“CICA”] Handbook — Accounting, which sets out generally accepted accounting principles [“GAAP”] for not-for-profit organizations in Canada. These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with GAAP and reflect the following significant accounting policies. [b] Revenue Recognition

services are not normally purchased by the Society and because of the difficulty of determining their fair value, these voluntary services are not recognized in these financial statements. Restricted contributions are initially deferred and then recognized as revenue in the year the related expenses are incurred. Donated capital assets and contributions received for the purchase of capital assets that will be amortized are initially deferred and recognized as revenue on the same basis as the related amortization expense. Donated capital assets that are not subject to amortization are recognized as a direct increase to net assets. Unrestricted investment income is recognized in the year earned. [c] Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents consist of cash on deposit and short-term investments with a short term to maturity of approximately three months or less from the date of purchase unless they are held for investment rather than maturity purposes, in which they are classed as investments.

The Society follows the deferral method of accounting for contributions.

[d] Property, plant and equipment

Unrestricted contributions are recognized as revenue when they are received or receivable if the amount can be reasonably estimated and collection is reasonably assured.

Property, plant and equipment are recorded at cost with amortization calculated on the straight-line method over the assets’ estimated useful lives as follows:

Donations received in kind are recorded at estimated fair market value at the date the donation is made.

Tangible Coin machine Automotive Computer equipment Crates

The work of the Society is dependent on the voluntary services of many members and others. Since these

5 years 6 years 3 years 5 years

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Forklifts Telephone system Other equipment Building Air conditioner Batteries Freezers and coolers Mezzanine Intangible Computer software Network upgrade

10 years 10 years 5 years 25 years 5 years 5 years 10 years 10 years 3 years 5 years

[e] Financial instruments Investments in pooled funds are carried at latest reported values. Equities and fixed income securities are valued at the latest traded prices. Transactions are recorded on a trade date basis and transaction costs are expensed as incurred. Investment income (loss), which consists of interest, dividends, realized and unrealized gains and losses, is recognized in the statement of operations.

Other financial instruments, including other receivables and accounts payable, are initially recorded at their fair value and are subsequently measured at cost or amortized cost, net of any provisions for impairment. [f] First Time Adoptions of Accounting Standards for Not-For-Profit Organizations These financial statements are the first financial statements which the Organization has prepared in accordance with Part III of the CICA Handbook — Accounting, which constitutes generally accepted accounting principles for not-for-profit organizations in Canada [“Part III”]. In preparing its opening balance sheet as at September 1, 2011 [the “Transition Date”], the Organization has applied Section 1501, Firsttime Adoption by Not-For-Profit Organizations. The accounting policies that the Organization has used in the preparation of its opening balance sheet through the application of these principles has resulted in no adjustments to balances which were presented in the statement of financial position prepared in accordance with Part V of the CICA Handbook — Pre- changeover accounting standards [“Previous GAAP”].

3. INVESTMENTS Investments, all of which are recorded at fair value, have an asset mix as follows:

August 31, 2013 $

August 31, 2012 $

September 1, 2011 $

Cash held by investment managers Fixed income investments Mutual Fund investments Canadian equities US equities Total investments

299,667 1,480,825 311,446 21,467 998 2,114,403

35,914 1,638,052 311,446 — — 1,985,412

241,483 2,470,899 68,192 — — 2,780,574

Investments in pooled funds have been allocated among the asset classes based on the underlying investments held in the pooled funds.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 4. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

August 31, 2013

Tangible Land Building Batteries Automotive Coin machine Computer equipment Crates Forklifts Freezers and coolers Other equipment Telephone system Air conditioner Mezzanine

Intangible Computer software Network upgrade

August 31, 2012

September 1, 2011

Cost $

Accumulated amortization $

Net book value $

Net book value $

Net book value $

1,974,000 3,297,586 67,434 822,748 5,809 320,939 67,636 405,495 271,540 184,769 116,365 10,243 33,952 7,578,516

— 253,999 34,163 626,260 4,065 295,622 67,636 306,999 271,540 166,725 59,990 3,073 1,698 2,091,770

1,974,000 3,043,587 33,271 196,488 1,744 25,317 — 98,496 — 18,044 56,375 7,170 32,254 5,486,746

1,750,000 3,394,238 21,250 164,335 2,904 48,161 — 70,975 — 5,021 65,048 9,220 — 5,531,152

— 2,343 32,396 225,339 4,067 52,577 — 95,754 18,103 6,457 73,722 — — 510,758

306,908 140,101 447,009 8,025,525

234,087 14,010 248,097 2,339,867

72,821 126,091 198,912 5,685,658

49,874 — 49,874 5,581,026

21,814 — 21,814 532,572

In the previous year, the Society acquired the land and building on 11 Street SE, Calgary, which it had previously leased for a total consideration of $5,268,060, consisting of a loan facility in the amount of $1,700,000 [see note 6] and the balance in cash. The allocation of the purchase price to land and building in 2012 was based on an initial estimate which has been revised in 2013 to increase land value by $224,000 and decrease the value of the building by a corresponding amount.

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 5. DEFFERED CONTRIBUTIONS Deffered operating contributions represent unspent externally restricted donations and grants. The changes in deferred operating contributions balance are as follows:

Balance, beginning of year Donations received for food purchases Donations received for flood relief Other restricted donations Amount recognized as revenue during the year Balance, end of year

August 31 2013 $

August 31 2012 $

50,000 210,490 959,461 — (1,119,230) 100,721

50,000 — — — — 50,000

6. DEFERRED CAPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS Deferred capital contributions represent the unamortized amount of contributions received for the purchase of capital assets. The amortization of deferred capital contributions begins when the associated capital assets are put into use, and is recorded as revenue in the statement of operations. Changes in the deferred capital contribution balance are as follows:

Balance, beginning of year Contributions externally restricted for purchase of capital assets Amortization of deferred capital contributions Balance, end of year

2013 $

2012 $

303,856 50,780

337,624 63,600

(88,526) 266,110

(97,368) 303,856

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 7. LOAN FACILITY The Society has a non-revolving reducing loan facility with Alberta Treasury Branches [“ATB”] available to a maximum amount of $3,592,750. An amount of $1,700,000 was drawn on this facility at the date of acquisition of the land and building described in note 4. The loan facility is repayable over a 240 month term at monthly principal payments of $7,083 and bears interest at the ATB prime lending rate plus 0.25% per annum payable monthly. A mortgage on the land and building has been provided as collateral. The net book value of the land and building is $5,017,586. [a]

Long-term debt consists of the following:

ATB Mortgage Less current portion Total Investments

[b]

August 31 2013 $

August 31 2012 $

September 1, 2011 $

1,304,822 85,000 1,219,882

1,552,143 85,000 1,467,143

— — —

The estimated principal repayments of long-term debt due in each of the next five years and thereafter are as follows:

$ 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Thereafter

[c] Interest on long-term debt of $40,190 [2012 - $57,227] is included in building occupancy expenses.

85,000 85,000 85,000 85,000 85,000 879,822 1,304,882

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 8. INTERNALLY RESTRICTED NET ASSETS The Board of Directors has established a Legacy Fund, the principal amount of which is reserved for the future benefit of the Society and may be drawn down only with the approval of the Board. Annual investment income earned on this fund, amounting to $19,970 in fiscal 2013 [fiscal 2012 - $15,690] has been included in investment income in the statement of operations and transferred into the Legacy Fund. The Capital Replacement Reserve represents management’s recognition that the future capital replacement cost of the Society’s property, plant and equipment, will exceed their historic cost recorded and amortized in these financial statements. An amount of $500,000 has been recorded. Internally restricted net assets consist of the following:

Legacy Fund Capital Replacement Fund Invested in property, plant and equipments Total internally restricted

August 31 2013 $

August 31 2012 $

September 1, 2011 $

819,474 500,000 5,419,549

743,878 500,000 5,277,169

588,688 500,000 194,948

6,739,023

6,521,047

1,283,636

2013 $

2012 $

2,445,924 283,651 145,897 422,064 3,297,536

2,215,843 250,309 150,744 354,004 2,970,900

9. OPERATING COSTS

Salaries and benefits Occupancy Vehicle and transportation Other

10. FOOD-IN-KIND The food is valued at an average price per pound of $1.92. In 2013, management estimates that approximately 15.3 million pounds of food were received and distributed [13.2 million pounds at $1.86 per pound in 2012].

NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 11. NET CHANGE IN NON-CASH WORKING CAPITAL BALANCES

Decrease (increase) in other receivables Decrease (increase) in marketable investments Decrease (increase) in prepaid expenses Increase (decrease) in accounts payable Increase (decrease) in deferred operating contributions

2013 $

2012 $

18,127 (128,991) 57,777 10,241 50,721 7,875

25,565 795,162 (41,145) (132,099) — 647,483

12. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS The Society is exposed to various financial risks through transactions in financial instruments. Credit Risk The Society is exposed to credit risk in connection with its fixed income investments because of the risk that one party to the financial instrument may cause financial loss for the other party by failing to discharge an obligation. Interest Rate Risk The Society is exposed to interest rate risk on certain products of its debt including the risk that future cash flows associated with the debt and interest payments will fluctuate as a result of changes in market interest rates. Other Price Risk The Society is exposed to other price risk through changes in market prices, other than changes arising from interest rate or currency risk, in connection with investments in equity securities and other pooled funds.

#YYCFLOOD 2013 Mayor Naheed Nenshi said he had never seen the rivers so high nor flow so fast. On Friday, June 21, 2013, the flood of the century evacuated 75,000 people from 25 neighbourhoods and closed the downtown core for more than 350,000 individuals that worked there.

Seeing the important role the Calgary Food Bank was playing, the Calgary Emergency Management Agency’s chief Bruce Burrell put out the call for critically-needed food items to be donated to the Calgary Food Bank for distribution to the organizations who were helping the thousands displaced by the flood through to keeping the clean-up volunteers fed and hydrated. Donations came in by truck, car and van load. Calgarians donated water, canned meals and produce in droves. Each day, over a six week period, up to 18,000 lbs were sent to 110 organizations, including emergency and volunteer sites in Calgary and central and southern Alberta.Volunteers and staff worked tirelessly, ensuring that as soon as donations came in, they were directed to the communities with the most immediate needs.

SCUBA NENSHI ILLUSTRATION COURTESY MANDY STOBO, BAD PORTRAITS

The devastation was enormous and the clean-up even more so. Communities in Calgary, central and southern Alberta were in need of emergency supplies.

PHOTO COURTESY FLICKR.COM / WILSON HUI

EYE TO THE FUTURE On Sept. 12, the Calgary Food Bank commemorated 30 years of service to the Calgary community with a time capsule. The capsule was buried in the newly designed anniversary garden and contained a selection of photos, press clippings, hamper contents plus volunteer & client stories. ‘Eye to the Future’ was the theme, a statement reflecting how the Food Bank has evolved and how we will continue moving forward.

This year, 130,000 families and individuals were in a crisis and came to the food bank for support. Because of our relationships and support systems, 82% of these clients will only ever use the food bank three times or less in their lifetime. The receipt of a hamper reduces the client’s stress of food insecurity, therefore they can focus on solutions for their emergency situation. Quality hamper contents aid in healthy diets, healthy minds and a healthy head start for the future.

The custom designed pergola in the donated anniversary garden conveys a special symbolic message. The roof contains 30 laser cut stars and a large eye. Directly below the eye is a compass that acts as the marker for the time capsule. 30 stars symbolize the 30 years since the Calgary Food Bank started its mission of feeding those in need. The eye is the vision of a future where no one goes hungry and the compass is a beacon to those that have lost their way and need the Food Bank’s help. Special thanks to those involved in constructing and creating our time capsule and anniversary garden:

Berass Welding Time Capsule and opener

ULS Landscaping Serenity Garden

Conservative Metal Fabrication Pergola

Tayo Construction Concrete

CALGARY FOOD BANK

Calgary Food Bank 5000 - 11 Street SE Calgary, AB T2H 2Y5 Phone (403) 253-2059 | Fax (403) 259-4240 www.CalgaryFoodBank.com

@CalgaryFoodBank

/CalgaryFoodBank