Wheatland County Food Bank reports successful year supporting the local community

By John Watson Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Closing out 2025, the Wheatland County Food Bank has reported the highest numbers it has ever experienced both in terms of client use, and donations received.

“(With) our current economic climate, rentals are extremely expensive – we are seeing our clients using up half or more of their income just on housing and utilities, so it is not leaving a lot of room for food and other things,” said Lynnette Aschenbrenner, executive director for the Wheatland County Food Bank. “We can definitely keep up with the demand; the community is very generous. We have lots of food and we do keep up a really strong volunteer base as well.”

Aschenbrenner added the food bank is just coming off of the Loblaw’s Feed Families Food Drive, which is among one of the more successful events that takes place in Strathmore annually. 

Additionally, donations were received earlier in December as a result of the Hockey for Hunger event, hosted by Crowther Memorial Junior High School, and a food drive which took place in the community of Lakewood.

“The firefighters and (Holy Cross did) a big challenge early in the year in the spring. That one is very successful. We also do our community-wide food drive every year in September as well,” said Aschenbrenner. “There are always things – all the schools will do them throughout the year, whether it’s Halloween or Christmas or any of those things.”

She emphasized that the need for the food bank does not go away at the conclusion of the holiday season.

Greatest in demand at the food bank is regularly for non-perishable supplies. Cereal is among the most in-demand items that passes through the food bank.

“Other things that people don’t think of are personal hygiene items that we do give out as well, like shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, diapers and that kind of stuff,” said Aschenbrenner. 

Once the time of year loops back around, 2026 will be the third year running that the food bank will operate its now annual community-wide food drive.

This year, donation numbers were down from 2024 during that particular event, which could be due to any number of factors.

Aschenbrenner added that as word of the food drive continues to spread, she hopes the event will grow and be able to support more individuals.

“We run it at the same time as the Calgary Food Bank and many other local food banks do their community-wide food drives so that we can all piggyback off of each other.”

The Wheatland County Food Bank is currently confident in its food stores to be able to support the community in need for some time leading up to the next string of food drives.