Duhacek explained that all of the food that comes through the agency’s doors goes back to people in need, with non-human consumables going to animals.
She told Lethbridge News Now on-scene that most residents were able to walk away with approximately $200 worth of food.
Duhacek said, “the food that they’re going to walk away with ranges from perishables, non-perishables, proteins, potatoes, we have huge chunks of beef, we have everything from seniors to family sizes will be covered today (June 21).”
“The food that we get is done by Second Harvest. So, our biggest partnership is with Second Harvest. Second Harvest is Canada’s largest food distribution program.”
Second Harvest ensures that Alberta Food Rescue and Distribution gets the necessary food that goes back out into the community.
“We also work with other places as well but generally what happens is, they come right from distribution centres and warehousing, and that’s how we’re able to do this.”
Duhacek did note, however, that they are struggling for funding to keep up their community efforts, so the organization is looking for corporate sponsorships. Tuesday’s event was made possible thanks to various donors, according to Duhacek.
She added that the agency first worked Mainstreet Equity Corp. in Calgary, with a potato delivery to one of their housing sites in the city. This eventually led to a broader partnership between the two bodies.
Duhacek said Mainstreet’s mandate for Tuesday’s event was to ensure no food was leftover, so, for the last half-hour of the afternoon initiative, members from across the entire community were invited to join and pick up food.
“We have families that are living with no extra dollars, but the cost of living is intense,” Duhacek said.
“It has a major strain on our food banks, our food rescues and even the housing programs, so that is why we’re working with Mainstreet.”
Duhacek added it is not just Lethbridge they are serving, but the agency has distributed food to the Piikani Nation and other surrounding First Nations. Plans are in the works to assist other communities in Alberta and eventually, help in municipalities outside of the province.
Chris Hollinger, Mainstreet’s Regional Supervisor for Calgary, Lethbridge, Cochrane and Airdrie said the organization’s partnership with the food distribution agency is very important.
He said, “we’re not just about quality of housing, we’re about giving back to the people that are living in our housing.”
“We’re here to support the people that are living in our properties and like I said, it’s not just about housing, it’s about mental wellness, food vulnerability that we’ve experienced with the increased costs of food in the grocery stores and we’re just happy that we can help out in any way.”
Hollinger said Mainstreet hopes to hold more events like Tuesday’s, alongside Alberta Food Rescue and Distribution, in the future.
Jennifer Tilson, a Mainstreet resident who was on hand for the event, said the food distribution is hugely impactful, “especially with the prices nowadays.”
She said the food options available were quite varied and helpful.
“They even [had] like individual salads and they had bananas and stuff like that, and then the big tray of meat and cheese is kind of nice,” Tilson said.
She added that other housing properties should take inspiration from Mainstreet and Alberta Food Rescue and Distribution, and host events like Tuesday’s in Lethbridge.
More on Alberta Food Rescue and Distribution is available at the non-profit’s Facebook page.
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