Calgary Food Bank's 22nd annual drive aims for 204,000 kilograms as demand climbs

Calgary Food Bank's 22nd annual City-Wide Food Drive collected donations Saturday from more than 300,000 homes across the city, with organizers aiming to gather over 204,000 kilograms of food and $100,000 in financial donations.

Roughly 8,000 volunteers participated, including members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, who made up the majority of volunteers, alongside food bank staff and community volunteers. Final numbers won't be known until Monday.

The drive comes as demand for the food bank's services has surged sharply. Between September 2024 and August 2025, CFB distributed 202,926 emergency food hampers — a 17 per cent increase from the previous year and nearly triple the number distributed in 2020. The food bank's 2025 fact sheet shows demand increased by 100 per cent over the previous two years. People accessing the food bank while employed has been increasing since 2021.

CFB now distributes over 20 million pounds of food annually. CFB research identifies insufficient wages, inconsistent hours, and rising costs as key drivers of food insecurity. Nationally, Food Banks Canada reports one in four Canadians currently live with food insecurity, with nearly 2.2 million food bank visits recorded in March 2025 alone.

"Demand continues to be high at the Calgary Food Bank, and really at food banks across the country," said Melissa From, CEO and president of CFB. "Obviously, we've had significant population growth in our city, but also significant inflation." Until end-of-day September 20, a private donor will match all donations of $25,000 or lower. Donated money allocated to fresh produce, dairy and meat allows recipients a well-balanced diet. Food drives allow CFB to avoid spending resources on shelf-stable items.