Information regarding PICKUP and HOME DELIVERY from the EDMONTON FOOD BANK for the disabled and those shut-in.
I sent an email to TRACEY GILCHRIST from the Edmonton Food Bank who is in charge of Client Services. Many people are eligible to receive food from the Food Bank but are unable to physically get there to pick it up.
The following was her response to me:
"Thank you for your email and your inquiry about our procedures. In regards to your question, any client (whether or not they are disabled) can send a friend or family member with a note of permission signed and dated, along with the all of the household members' identification, to pick up their hamper on their behalf. Also, for those who have nobody who can pick up a food hamper on their behalf, and who have mobility issues, or are ill, we do have a delivery option. If you know of any clients who may qualify for delivery, they may call our intake line at 780-425-4190, Monday to Friday between 8:30 am and 4:00 pm to speak to one of our intake agents. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me at 780-425-2133 extension 200."
Please spread this information around particularly if you know anybody from Alberta or the Edmonton area. I don't know what the procedures are in other Alberta areas, but considering it only took me about three minutes to find the answer, it's definitely worth your time to look into it.
Edmonton's Food Bank Staff:
Our staff are dedicated to providing you with the best possible experience. If this is an urgent matter, please call us at 780.425.2133
Administration
General Inquiries | P: 780.425.2133
Marjorie Bencz, CM, Executive Director
Mark Doram, Director of Operations | ext. 101
Jamie Post, Support Services Manager | ext. 231
Volunteering
Please contact us if you, your workplace, team, or class would like to volunteer at our warehouse or at a fundraising event.
Virginia Pegg, Volunteer Engagement Manager | ext. 227
Cindy Washbrook, Volunteer Engagement Specialist | ext. 216
Resource Development | Special Events
Please contact our team if you are planning on:
Organizing or hosting a food drive or fundraiser
Coordinating a food pick up of 50 kilograms or more
Coordinating a 50/50 or raffle
Any media inquiries can also be directed to our team.
Special Event Inquiries | P: 780.425.2133
Cory Sellar, Video Production
Doug Hunter, Special Events & Community Relations
Susan Padget, Special Events & Community Relations
Tamisan Bencz-Knight, Manager of Strategic Relationships & Partnerships
Warehouse Operations
Please feel free to contact our warehouse directly if you are a retail food company or food industry donor.
Arthur Warman, Shipping & Receiving | ext. 102
Beyond Food & Learning Lab
Please contact us if you have questions about the Beyond Food program or would like to schedule an appointment.
Wisam Abu Rajab, Service Centre Coordinator | ext. 229
Agency Engagement
Please reach out for our Annex booking, school engagements, agency liaison, or our garden.
Hailey Helset, Agency/Depot Engagement Manager | ext. 225
Judy Yawney, Food Hub Coordinator | ext. 230
Yagut Albers, Agency Engagement Specialist | ext. 241
Client Services
If you have questions or feedback about your food hamper.
Tracey Gilchrist, Client Services Coordinator | ext. 200
Contact Us
11508 120 St. NW, Edmonton AB, T5G 2Y2
Donations via cheque can be sent to:
P.O. Box 62061, Edmonton AB, T5M 4B5
Need Food Assistance
780.425.4190
Other Inquiries
780.425.2133
Laura-Lee's Personal Observations:
I don't want to contradict the EFB recommendations but giving pasta isn't a good idea. Neither are those pre-made cheap packages made up by the various stores to push their own stuff. Poor people can buy cheap items themselves. You should focus on healthy things with lots of nutrients that have a long shelf life.
Suggestions:
Canned items
Tuna, Ham, Chicken
Fruit
Soups (not just broth but full of good stuff)
Simulac/Baby Formula
Jars
Jams and Jellies
Peanut Butter
Spaghetti Sauce (with meat-lots of uses)
Baby Food (comes in little pouches now)
Kids Lunches
Fruit cups
Cereal Bars
Fruit Juice Boxes
Paper Products
Diapers,
Toilet Tissue
Feminine napkins (NOT Tampons)
(Items desperately needed; always in short supply)
My Personal Favorites:
- Cookies (oatmeal, digestives). Probably not a big surprise to you.
- Box of Cereal (not all are just sugar and often you will find a "get one free" sale among the kajillion choices)
- Chef-Boyardee Ravioli
- Dried Scalloped or Mashed Potatoes
- Spaghetti-O's
- Corn Chips
- Powdered Hot Chocolate
- Popcorn (before it's popped)
- Pudding Cups
- Canned Tomatoes (often very inexpensive, healthy, many uses)
- Cheesies
- Cake/Cookie/Muffin Mixes (as long as they don't require a bunch of extra ingredients)
- Powdered Milk (can be expensive but lasts forever, has many uses and can be made thinner in desperate times)
- Please consider giving chocolate bars. As a child I sometimes went months without a chocolate bar. It costs little to you but means SO much to poor people!
(I love healthy items that are always a welcomed TREAT too!)
Keep in mind:
- many poor people don't own a microwave.
- get items that are nutritious but keep for a long time (ie. dried potatoes)
- if its cheap for you to buy then it's something poor people can probably already afford too
- it feels good to give items both fun and nutritious (oatmeal cookies, popcorn)
Remember: if it's something that will keep on a shelf for a while and YOU would like it, so will others.
Laura-Lee's hints:
Watch for sales and coupons. (especially buy one get one free). They get the item, you feel good and you didn't have to pay any money. You are just using your shopping smarts.
Many times I've gone "grocery shopping for the Food Bank" armed with my list of "buy one get one free" items and various coupons that I've been keeping my eyes open for throughout the week. I place these items in one corner of my cart and have them bagged separately. On my way out the door I pop them into the Food Bank box.
More than once I had a couple of bags of primo items that cost me less than $10 OR didn't cost me any extra money at all.
So enjoy this creative and personal way of giving to a poor family. It can become quite an addictive way of volunteering your time to charity and easy to get your kids on-board too as they scout flyers and online for sales and coupons.
"The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Corinthians 9:6-7)
I hope this helps.
Love, Laura-Lee
