Edmonton is a generous community that is always wanting to lend a hand. These three businesses are ongoing supporters who approached us with their own ideas on how they could help.

Midas – the owners of Edmonton Midas Franchises approached us with an idea on how they could support us on an ongoing basis – donate $1 for every oil change customers get. This simple idea has added up to big support, since the initiative began they have donated $18,545!

Kal Tire – owners wanted to show their support by being a regular donation drop-off point for Edmontonians. This makes donating convenient and easy for supporters. This year, so far, we have collected over 700 kg of food from these locations!

Fountain Tire – Brian at Fountain Tire on 8550 Yellowhead Trail approached us with a generous idea to provide ongoing support – offer free flat repairs to those that came to the shop with a food donation.

@yegfoodbank

Edmonton's Food Bank

www.edmontonsfoodbank.com

Message from the Executive DirectorExecutive Director: Marjorie Bencz, CM

Director of Operations: Mark Doram

Warehouse: 11508 - 120 Street

Edmonton, AB T5G 2Y2

Mailing Address: PO Box 62061

Edmonton, AB T5M 4B5

Phone: 780.425.2133

Fax: 780.426.1590

GleaningsSummer 2016

Thank you & Reflections from the Executive Director

Contact Information

We started providing services to Ft. McMurray evacuees and other organizations/ communities serving evacuees on May 4, 2016. In the last couple of months, we have provided food, both directly and indirectly, to thousands of evacuees.

Some of our Work:• We have been distributing 100 to 150 hampers each day to evacuees from our warehouse. This number does not include evacuees served at the Salvation Army and our other affiliates.• Food shipments were sent to the communities of Ft. McMurray, Morinville, Lac La Biche, Bonnyville, Athabasca, and Boyle. • Food was given to and exchanged with City Evacuation Centres and the Emergency Relief Centre.• Baby Formula was given to families, distribution centres, etcetera when the Norwalk Virus broke out in the Evacuation Centres.

Dear Friends,

While some people access services directly from Edmonton’s Food Bank, we are a central warehouse and referral centre for 230 agencies, churches, and food depots. In May 2016, we provided food hampers to 23,681 people (up from 15,592 in May 2015), in addition to providing food for nearly 500,000 meals and snacks.

Our priority service is Edmontonians and Edmonton-based charities. Edmonton’s Food Bank, however, supported emergency relief during the Slave Lake fires, the High River and Calgary floods, and helped Calling Lake assist evacuees in 2015. We are able to deploy warehousing and food support within hours, as needed.

Starting on May 5, 2016, we contacted funders, supporters, and the public to assist us. Our Resource Development department and managers had to do this into the evening, as they were packing hampers during business hours. Thank goodness for the friendship of our partners and donors.

Geographically, Edmonton is sitting in a unique position to respond to future crisis; and Edmonton’s Food Bank remains committed to step up in times of need.

Having said all of this, it is important to acknowledge that poverty and hunger exist in Edmonton all year-round. Food is one of our most fundamental needs. Yet for some, eating three meals a day is a luxury. Changing that reality requires commitment – a commitment of ongoing, active concern.

Thank you for your commitment and support. Thank you for your friendship. Thank you for helping us during these challenging times.

Marjorie Bencz, CM

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

March April May

15,3

4420

,431

15,6

5621

,261

15,5

9223

,681

2015

2016

Hamper ProgramHamper Comparison Individuals Served

GleaningsSummer 2016

Donate Securely Online Edmonton’s Food Bank provides year round service to those

in need. We are pleased to be able to offer donors the option of donating securely online through CanadaHelps for either a one

time or a monthly donation. Please visit our website at www.edmontonsfoodbank.com

and click on Donate Now. Gleanings is published three times a year by Edmonton's Food Bank

Client’s StoryDuring a recent Saturday morning depot, Lois broke down with grateful tears as volunteers laid out her hamper. Lois sometimes struggles to make it to the end of the month with enough food. She knows she can reach out to Edmonton’s Food Bank but in May she wasn’t thinking of herself first. Like many individuals and families in our city, her first thoughts were for the heartbreaking challenges of the evacuees of Fort McMurray. Many fled the fires with little more than the shirts on their backs. Lois was determined to use up all her resources until her fridge and cupboard were literally empty. During her phone call to client services, our volunteer asked why she had waited this long and she replied, “I didn’t want to bother the Food Bank as you are helping fire evacuees who had even less than me.”

As she packed up her last items into her bag, our hamper volunteers had a surprise to acknowledge her 71st birthday - they sang her happy birthday and brought out a small cake she could take home to share with her neighbors. A grateful smile crossed Lois’s face as she told our young volunteers they had just made her day!

Meet Club Appetite

Club Appetite connects Food Banks, businesses, and users in a way where everyone benefits. This unique partnership will provide local support to Edmonton’s Food Bank to ensure that we have what we need to continue to feed our community. Essentially, the platform is great for Food Banks, donors, and as a promotional opportunity for businesses in Edmonton.

Want to give & participate?Simply download the app (give.clubappetite.com/ login/) to earn POINTS every time you donate, share, or participate in events. Points can be redeemed for great rewards from our community sponsors! Try it and tell us what you think.

Hello Sunshine Campaign

Book a stay-cation at the Radisson Edmonton South this summer and support Edmonton’s Food Bank at the same time. For every room reserved during this summer campaign, the Radisson Edmonton South will give $5 per room to Edmonton’s Food Bank.Visit them online at www.radisson.com/offers for more information.

Offer includes:• Guestroom accommodations• Buffet breakfast for each registered adult guest• Surface or underground parking• Free high-speed Internet access

Terms and Conditions• Booking Start Date: May 15, 2016• Booking End Date: September 5, 2016• Does not include tax or gratuity

Join Us for Upcoming Events!For more information visit: edmontonsfoodbank.com/events

Servus Heritage FestivalHawrelak ParkJuly 30 to August 1Edmonton’s Food Bank will, once again, be collecting food, monetary, and ticket donations. www.heritage-festival.com/

What the Truck?!August 20 - Telus Field 10233 96 Ave NWSeptember 25 - Churchill SquareEdmonton’s Food Bank will be collecting food and monetary donations at the event. www.whatthetruck.ca/

Southwest Edmonton Farmer’s MarketAugust 31 and September 28, 4:00 - 7:00 pmShare the season’s bounty with those in need. Come to the Southwest Edmonton Farmer’s Market and drop off a donation of fresh produce!

Alberta Iron Indians Pontiac Club Show and ShineDon Wheaton 10727 82 Ave NWSeptember 10, 10:00 am - 2:00 pmEdmonton’s Food Bank will be collecting food and monetary donations.

City Wide Door to Door September 17 Volunteers with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be in your neighborhood collecting non-perishable food items. If you receive a flyer, simply put your donation in a bag and place it on your doorstep before 10:00am. Donations will be picked up by 12:00pm.

Hunger Awareness WeekSeptember 19 to 23Raising awareness of the solvable problem of hunger in Canada. Everyone can play a part in reducing hunger. How will you make a difference? Volunteer at Edmonton’s Food Bank, donate food and funds, approach local representatives, join local Hunger Awareness Week activities and events, and spread the word.