Calgary's first halal food bank launches Aug. 29 to serve food-insecure residents

Calgary's first halal food bank officially launches Aug. 29 at the Falconridge-Castleridge Community Association, aiming to address a gap in food assistance for people who follow Islamic dietary rules.

The Calgary Halal Food Bank Foundation will provide halal food to people experiencing food insecurity, regardless of their faith or background. Founder and president Samina Rao created the organization after her own experience moving to Canada in 2008. While struggling financially, she received food from the Calgary Food Bank, but much of it wasn't halal and she had to return it. "Lots of the time I had to return all the food and then my kids cried because they wanted to eat," she said. "I was feeling so much pain." She promised herself that one day she would help others in the same situation.

Halal refers to foods and practices that follow Islamic dietary rules, including avoidance of pork and alcohol and preparing meat in a specific way. For Muslims who follow these requirements, not all food available through food-support programs is suitable.

The foundation will operate through volunteers and deliver food directly to people's homes rather than requiring them to visit a food bank in person. "My idea was that we cannot see the person who is asking because lots of people have their self-respect and they don't want to damage that, so our service will be without damaging their self-respect, integrity, we will provide food on their doorstep," Rao said. The delivery model removes barriers that prevent people from seeking help due to shame.

The need is urgent. In 2024, about 24.9 per cent of Calgarians experienced some level of food insecurity, according to Vibrant Communities Calgary's Wellbeing Dashboard — down from 31.7 per cent in 2023. However, demand at established food banks has surged. According to the Calgary Food Bank's latest data from 2025, demand has increased by 100 per cent since 2023 and 200 per cent since 2020. While most food-bank users are unemployed, there has been a rise in employed people seeking assistance due to inconsistent work hours, insufficient wages, and lack of job security. Amir Ali, vice-president of the foundation, noted that 31 per cent of individuals accessing food banks belong to the working class.

Calgary is home to a large Muslim population, with about 100,000 people in the city identifying as Muslim in the 2021 census. For years, Rao volunteered with the Calgary Food Bank and smaller food banks run by churches, temples, and mosques, helping families each month before deciding to create a more organized system.

The foundation is currently seeking food and monetary donations, as well as volunteers for operations and deliveries. Its website and social media pages will launch alongside the food bank on Aug. 29, with operations expected to begin in November.