SHELVES FILLED FOR VETERANS
Food drive collects 180,000 kilograms
The 10th annual Veterans Food Drive is being called the biggest and most successful to date, after more than 180,000 kilograms of food was donated in just 10 days.
It was enough to fill four warehouses.
Dave Howard, president of the Canadian Legacy Project, said the demand for assistance is much higher than it was when they started.
“When we started this event 10 years ago, the Veterans Food Bank consisted of a small closet of food donations. Wrapping up our 10th year, we have more veterans than ever utilizing the VFB on a monthly basis,” Howard said.
The majority of veterans who use the food bank services in Calgary are in their 20s and still adapting to civilian life.
“No one informed them that their pensions aren’t kicking in for eight to 10 months. They still have to provide for their families in the meantime,” Howard said.
Howard added it’s a far cry from the dire situation the VFB found itself in just three weeks ago.
The veterans’ charity had followed the downward trend of the larger Calgary Food Bank, which had seen demand for its service increase dramatically since the oil and gas-dependent economy plummeted two years ago.
Calgary Poppy Fund chief administrative officer Joey Bleviss told Postmedia in October that year over year, the average number of hampers handed out on a monthly basis jumped from 80 to 130 and had shown no signs of slowing down.
Howard said he looks forward to making a difference in the veterans’ lives, but said it’s obvious they couldn’t have done it without a great number of Calgarians.
“I’m blown away by this support considering the economy we are in right now,” he said.
“There are many Calgarians who are suffering, but they rally together.
“We just want to thank Calgarians. The support ranged from little kids asking for food instead of presents for their birthday, to big corporations pitching in in a big way.”