The number of people turning to the Pincher Creek and District Community Food Centre for support has more than doubled in three years.

The centre served 427 people in the past year, compared with 197 two years earlier. Those receiving support include children, seniors, working adults, rural residents and families facing unexpected or temporary financial hardship.

Nearly one-third of those served last year were under the age of 19.

Growing region, growing need

Established in 2020, the centre has grown from a grassroots effort into an accredited member of Food Banks Canada, with charitable status, an active volunteer base and partnerships across the region.

The centre serves residents in Pincher Creek, Pincher Station, Beaver Mines, Lundbreck, Twin Butte, Castle Mountain and Cowley.

Davina Brown, who chairs the centre’s board, says the centre has focused on building a sustainable operation while continuing to respond to community needs.

She says the centre assisted an average of 77 households each month over the past year, with monthly demand ranging from 70 to 92.

“Demand has remained consistently high and continues to grow,” Brown says.

Children and youth received the largest share of hampers last year. The full breakdown by age:

—Children and youth (18 and under): 132

—Aged 25 to 35: 80

—Aged 36 to 50: 77

—Aged 60 and older: 59

—Aged 51 to 59: 43

—Aged 19 to 24: 36

Most hampers, 337, went to residents in the town of Pincher Creek, while 48 went to rural areas, 19 to Cowley, 12 to Lundbreck, seven to Pincher Station and four to unhoused individuals.

How the hampers get made

The centre operates Monday to Thursday, with clients ordering hampers by phone or text. Access is based on a means test and hampers are provided at no cost.

Volunteers play a central role in daily operations by sorting food, checking expiry dates, preparing hampers and delivering food to clients. A separate team of volunteers maintains the centre’s vegetable garden, which provides fresh produce.

“Our biggest challenges include keeping pace with rising food costs, maintaining a reliable food supply and ensuring we have sustainable funding to support our operations,” Brown says.

“Community partnerships are essential to everything we do. We simply couldn’t operate without the generosity of local businesses, organizations, grant funders and residents,” she says.

The centre receives food from Walmart, No Frills, Co-op food bins, Canada Bread, Back Country Butchering and the Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, redirecting surplus food that might otherwise go to waste.

Grant funding from Food Banks Canada, Alberta Food Banks, United Way, Community Foundation of Southwestern Alberta, the Town and MD joint council, and TC Energy also supported the centre’s operations over the past year.

Recent fundraising included a Walmart Pincher Creek campaign that raised $16,488.93.

“The Walmart Fight Hunger, Spark Change campaign was a tremendous success and represents one of our most significant annual fundraising initiatives,” Brown says.

Funds will help the centre purchase nutritious food to supplement donations and ensure balanced hampers are available throughout the year.

“It has a huge impact on this particular town because this is a small town, and I’ve seen there are very needy people here,” says Kash Panwala, lead food and fresh department manager at Walmart Pincher Creek.

“They help a lot in terms of food, specifically when we are donating food, which helps a lot to those people.”

Other campaigns through Tim Hortons, Boston Pizza and Loblaws, along with the CPKC Holiday Train, have also supported the centre over the past year.

More than a hamper

“Beyond providing food, the food centre helps reduce stress and uncertainty for individuals and families facing food insecurity,” Brown says. “We also build community by connecting volunteers, donors, local businesses and partner organizations around a shared goal of ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food with dignity and respect.”

While future demand is difficult to predict, she says recent trends show the need for food assistance will likely continue. The centre’s strategic plan focuses on financial sustainability, community engagement, program effectiveness and team excellence.

“Many people needing assistance are working, raising families or facing unexpected life circumstances,” Brown says. “Asking for help takes courage and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity and respect.”