Thanksgiving shines a light on food insecurity in Wheatland County

By Melissa Crispin-Piche Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

As families across Canada prepare to gather around the table for Thanksgiving, the Wheatland County Food Bank is reminding residents that not every neighbour has the certainty of knowing where their next meal will come from.

Demand for food support continues to rise in the community, according to executive director Lynette Aschenbrenner. The food bank recently completed its fiscal year at the end of August after packing 966 hampers.

“We’re definitely seeing an increase in numbers over the last few years,” Aschenbrenner said. “We had packed 966 hampers for the year, which is up from the previous year.”

Those hampers supported roughly 2,789 individuals. About 32 per cent went to new families who may be new to the area or facing circumstances that have changed their financial situation.

Food insecurity is also reaching households that might not traditionally be associated with food bank use. 

“A good 25 per cent of the households that we see are working families,” Aschenbrenner said.

Housing and utility costs are taking a significant share of household income while the cost of commuting adds another strain.

“We’re seeing people that are spending a good portion of their earnings on housing and utilities,” she said. “The other that is affecting people is commuting. The price of fuel is taking another huge chunk out of people’s budgets.”

Thanksgiving can make those pressures particularly visible. While the holiday is traditionally centred around a shared meal, the food bank does not provide larger hampers specifically for Thanksgiving. Aschenbrenner said the goal is to ensure everyone receives equitable support regardless of when they need help.

The food bank doesn’t adjust their hampers for a particular season or traditional holiday meal – they give out the same thing to keep things equal. There are practical considerations too. Some clients simply do not have the refrigerator or freezer space to store large holiday food items.

The food bank is coming off a successful community food drive that helped fill its shelves. However, some necessities are always in demand.

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“We are always in need of personal hygiene items,” Aschenbrenner said. “It is something that’s important for families as well, to be able to have shampoo and toothpaste and those kinds of things.”

Soup, canned fruit, canned vegetables and other non-perishable foods move quickly. Monetary donations help the food bank purchase fresh milk, eggs, cheese and fruit each week.

The organization’s work also extends into local schools through its Weekends and More program. Teachers identify children who are arriving at school hungry and food is sent home with them for the weekend.

“We purchased yoghurt and cheese strings and apples and oranges and bananas for that program as well,” Aschenbrenner said.

The program is now in approximately its sixth year and currently supports around 55 children each week.

For those who need a little extra help, the food bank also operates a drop-in pantry Tuesday through Thursday from 9 to 10:30 a.m. People can receive a couple of bags of available groceries without going through the regular application process. Proof of address within Strathmore or Wheatland County is required.

For anyone hesitant to reach out for help, Aschenbrenner said there is no reason to be afraid or embarrassed. 

“Not to be scared and not to be too proud to do it. That is what we’re there for, to help people through those rough times,” she said. “Everything is completely confidential.”

As Thanksgiving tables are set across the region, Aschenbrenner hopes people will remember that hunger can exist much closer to home than they realize.

“When you’re not experiencing it, it’s hard to understand that it’s out there,” she said. “Just remember the people that are struggling and just give.”

And that help does not have to be large.

“Every little bit helps. Every can of soup, every little bit helps.”

For more information and to drop off donations or take part in the drop-in-pantry program, the food bank’s address is 122 Canal Gardens and their website is wheatlandfoodbank.ca.