Food banks seeking volunteers to help with increase in clients

By Lethbridge Herald on September 1, 2023.

Josh Cherry, left, and Ian Western work with a group of other volunteers preparing food hampers Thursday morning at Interfaith Food Bank. Herald photo by Steffanie Costigan

Steffanie Costigan – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Interfaith Food Bank and Lethbridge Food Bank are both voicing their need for more volunteers to keep up with the rising increase in clients.

Interfaith Food Bank executive director Danielle McIntyre said the summer break impacted the numbers of volunteers.

“We’re seeing a lot of people settling back into the normal routines after the summer break. And so we’re really hoping that we’ll be able to reach out and restock our volunteers, as we have had so many more clients at the food bank. We need more people to do all the work that’s necessarily to feed them all,” said McIntyre. 

Interfaith Food Bank does not do volunteer walk-ins –  its preps their volunteers with training and ask volunteers to reach out to them at 403-320-8779 or go to their website and complete the volunteer application at https://www.volgistics.com/appform/366681706  

McIntyre said the need for more volunteers has been apparent with the increase in people turning to the food bank.

“Our needs are more driven by the fact that we have more clients. And so we are looking to grow our volunteer team to meet the current level of need in the community.”

Executive director of the Lethbridge Food Bank, Mac Nickel, voiced his concerns of not having enough volunteers for their school lunch program and the shrinking of volunteers industry-wide.

“This year, specifically, we’ve seen quite a bit of a drop in our volunteers, I believe it’s industry-wide. In other organizations are also having this issue. Something that worries us with that is we can kind of fight through it. But upcoming we have a school lunch program called ‘Mindful Munchies.’ And with that, it takes a lot more volunteer effort towards it,” said Nickel.

McIntyre said the cost of living has even forced households with two working parents to have to turn to the food bank.

“We have seen people who are in a situation where both parents in the home are working and bringing in money, but that money is still not enough to meet the rising costs. It’s not just groceries that are expensive. It’s the utility bills, it’s the gas for the car, it’s the extra fees at every place that you go, the interest rates have risen.”

To volunteer at the Lethbridge Food Bank, call 403-320-1879 extension three or fill out an application at https://form-can.keela.co/volunteer-application10 

Nickel noted most volunteers have been elderly individuals who are now at the age where they are no longer able to help.

“The place where most of our clients access our services, we’re finding that a lot of our returning volunteers are not returning this year, mostly just out of age. We find that most of our volunteers are retirees as they usually have a little bit more time on their hands. And a lot of our retirees are getting to the age where volunteering is even becoming a little bit more of an issue.”

McIntyre expressed her concerns with homeowners now needing to use the food bank, the fastest growing population at the food bank being single adults.

“The one that scares me the most is more homeowners are having to turn to the food bank. More working people are having to turn to the food bank because it’s just so expensive to live. And the fastest growing population at the food banks are single adults who live alone. So having a job no more means that you can put food on the table.”

Nickel expressed the gratitude the food bank has for its volunteers and the impact this has on the community.

“The work that people give to this food bank instantly goes into our community. So, for us to be a part of this and to see that work get translated instantly into helping these people in need is both rewarding for ourselves, but also rewarding for our volunteers to see that those people are so happy to get it. And frankly, from our end, we are so thankful for our volunteers. We would not be able to do what we can do without them in any form.”

McIntyre said they need volunteers willing to commit to three-to-four-hour shifts; part-time shifts are also in need. She voiced the lifeblood volunteers are to the food bank and the wonderful community members coming out to help.

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of our organization. We are a community organization that totally relies on the generosity of the community, not just in donations of food and funds but also in time. And so, our volunteers are wonderful community members that feel like they are able to give of themselves see beyond themselves to the benefit of the entire community.”

McIntyre said the food bank also provides its clients with resources to give them a hand up instead of a handout.

“We also use our volunteers to help connect our clients with other community resources. We do that in the way that we’re trying to be more than a handout and instead a hand-up. So, working with the clients to address the underlying reasons why they’re food insecure.”