Food insecurity’s sharp rise in Alberta drives demand for breakfast program

The Calgary Food Bank is bracing for a busy time of year with school right around the corner, and demand is expected to grow.

The Calgary Food Bank says it’s bracing for a busy time of year with school right around the corner.

On Tuesday morning, volunteers prepared packages for the Breakfast Club of Canada to be distributed to 26 schools across Calgary—in time for students heading back to school next week.

The partnership feeds an estimated 7,900 students in Calgary.

That number is expected to climb this fall.

Both charities say they are feeding the highest number of children in their history, and that demand is only expected to keep growing.

“We’ve been seeing a higher number of students accessing our programs (and) accessing our programs more frequently throughout the week. Instead of just coming one time, they are coming every day,” said Jennifer Neil, Breakfast Club of Canada program co-ordinator.

Neil says they rely on data released in May from Statistics Canada; Alberta has seen the sharpest rise in food insecurity in just one year, by 30 per cent.

She says the economy is playing a major role.

“That’s due to inflation, the cost of living, tariffs on our household goods,” she said.

Melissa From, president and CEO of the Calgary Food Bank, says they are servicing a ballooning clientele.

“(There’s been) obviously huge increases in need in the student base, but of course huge increases in need across the population,” From said.

She says many of the food items are purchased at a higher rate with rising costs of groceries and consumer goods.

Vibrant Communities Calgary is also seeing high rates of food insecurity, or a limited or uncertain access to adequate food.

In 2023, 32 per cent of Calgary households struggled to find food, almost doubling the rate from five years earlier.

“For us and the emergency food hampers we provide, nearly 30 per cent of our clients and the folks that we’re feeding are students and young people,” From said.

She says it’s important for both organizations to speak out about their growing needs for support.

“Everything has a tipping point, and I think we’re getting awfully close,” she said.

Across Alberta, 290 school programs are supported by Breakfast Club of Canada and its partners.