Cancelled concert feeds thousands of homeless

The sounds of silence meant full bellies for weeks at Calgary’s largest homeless shelter.

When torrential rains washed out the Oxford Stomp scheduled to take over Fort Calgary in July, the Rotary Club of Calgary, which organized the concert, donated the dinner that would have been served to 9,000 concertgoers to the Calgary Drop-In Centre.

The unexpected delivery of 140 beef roasts, two pallets each of coleslaw, baked beans and canned fruit, and 150 dozen buns couldn’t have come at a better time, said shelter spokesman Jordan Hamilton.

“Between January 2015 and January 2016, our food costs have risen by 50 per cent due to inflation and client demand,” said Hamilton.

“Unexpected problems come up, but I’m glad they were able to do something great.”

The food, consumed in sandwiches and beef and potato dinners, helped feed the shelter’s clients for two weeks, he said.

“It’s been some time before we’d eaten that good,” said Hamilton.

“Many don’t think homeless people deserve nice things, but they do.”

For the first time in 20 years, the charity fundraising concert — this one to be headlined by artists Don Henley, Matthew Good and Serena Ryder — was cancelled.

Insurance covered losses incurred by the cancellation, organizers said.

The homeless normally enjoy more complimentary and donated food during Stampede week, but Hamilton said the cancellation of numerous parties this year due to a slumping economy cut into that.

Those economic woes have also increased the number of people seeking help that Calgary DropIn and Rehab officials wouldn’t normally see, he said.

“Sixty per cent of our clients are baby boomers who are no longer doing the work they’ve done in the past,” said Hamilton, adding the DI hosts about 1,100 people a night.

“It’s shocking to see them knocking at our door.”

The DI, he said, also benefits from a program called Chef’s Table that funnels unused food from hotels and banquet halls.