Edmonton food bank for veterans struggling to keep up with demand | CBC News

As inflation and food costs rise, an Edmonton food bank for veterans is struggling to keep up with increasing demand.

The Veterans Association Food Bank opened its Edmonton location in 2020 after the same organization found success in Calgary.

They’ve since opened two more warehouses in Grande Prairie and Lethbridge to support veterans across the province.

But the rising need has made it difficult to keep up.

Operations manager Bob Cotton said right now they don’t have enough food for the 160 hampers going out in November.

“We are in such desperate, desperate need of food so that we can help the families of veterans and veterans themselves to put some food on the table,” Cotton said.

The hundreds of volunteers that make up the organization are veterans themselves or have loved ones who served. That connection of veterans helping veterans offers a safe space for people to seek help if they need it, said Cotton.

Cotton, a Canadian Forces veteran, said even if help is needed, pride is a big hurdle many veterans need to overcome first.

“If I was in the lineup at a regular food bank and I had a family of two or three behind me, I’d move,” Cotton said.

“Too much pride. We served our countries, and to be able to get the kind of help that we need, we need this space.”

Since opening, the number of clients they serve has quadrupled.

“I would say right from 2020, we started off with only 40 clients, and now we’re at 160. And it’s every day—almost every day—we have new veterans coming in, walking through the door.”

Long-time volunteer Chelle Murray delivers hampers to veterans across the city and sees just how much the food is appreciated. 

“Some of them get emotional. It’s really hard for them to put their own service feelings aside and to maybe be in a position where they have to ask for help,” Murray said.

“And I’m sure that’s a feeling that is shared by a lot of people who have to use this service. But the service is for them, and there is no shame in ever asking for that.”

It’s not just food; the group also acts as a community for these veterans.

They offer referrals to medical and mental health support, assistance with veterans affairs claims and disability tax forms, and emergency help for people in immediate need.

We interact the same as we did when we were in the military,”  Cotton said. “It’s very comforting for us that we haven’t lost that camaraderie.”

Tamisan Bencz-Knight with Edmonton’s Food Bank, an agency partner of the group, said that camaraderie helps veterans in need take the first step.

“That breaks down barriers. Even if somebody’s not too sure and they just want to have conversations with somebody, oftentimes, they reach out to food banks because, no matter what, if somebody’s struggling, they need to make sure there’s food on the table,” Bencz-Knight said.

“There’s so many resources here besides food, and it’s great,” Murray said. “This is my extended family.”

The Veterans Food Bank is welcoming all donations at their warehouse at 18504 111th Avenue.