More than 30 families in Jasper are using the food bank as a regular part of their family’s food budget, an increase of 500 per cent from pre-pandemic usage. 

The issue was brought up at a recent community conversation between members of municipal council, Jasper Local Food Society representatives and volunteers from the Jasper Food Bank, among others. 

“It was a wake-up call for all of us,” said Sasha Galitzki, a director with the JLFS. “A lot of us didn’t know the extent of the issues.”

Like all Canadians, local residents are facing inflation and increasing costs of living—including housing and groceries—but it’s been some Jasperites’ difficulties in putting food on the table which have become startlingly apparent to local volunteers. 

“This town has people who are very comfortable, and it also has people who are having so much trouble making ends meet,” said Monica Rodriguez, manager of the Jasper Food Bank. “I know everyone is looking for that picture-perfect Jasper, so sometimes we don’t see the problems we are living with.”

The Jasper Food Bank is set up to assist families and individuals through tough times, but in the wake of the last two years’ economic and social upheaval, some residents’ needs have become more urgent. Approximately three dozen families rely on the hamper program to augment their food budget.

“The main concern I see is how much food costs and how little people are earning,” said Rodriguez. “Families are struggling, even if they’re working two and three jobs.”

That frequent usage points to larger, systemic problems, suggested Councillor Kathleen Waxer, who two weeks ago was appointed to a municipal Food Security Working Group. In addressing those issues, Waxer wants to help reduce the stigma that often accompanies food bank usage. 

“There can be so many challenges to making a living wage,” she said. “But if food security is an issue for an individual or a family, it’s certainly a crisis,” Waxer said. 

Those crises take a broader toll, too: the more people depend on the food bank, the more volunteers are spread thin, the less capacity the organization has. The food bank’s board has responded to those increased needs, securing grant funding to help replenish the organization’s coffers. The bottom line is the group has had to think differently about its ability to be sustainable, said board member Andreas Sigrist.

“We have a high-functioning board with highly-skilled people, but burnout is an issue and the more volunteers we have, the better,” Sigrist said.

Typically, volunteers help with hamper delivery or cover the regular Thursday evening shifts, however, the Jasper Food Bank has also identified a gap that other non-profits in Jasper will be familiar with: a lack of administrative support. Bookkeeping, grant-writing and filing skills are often in short supply in community organizations.  

“People typically volunteer with these groups to help with the organization’s mission, not to file year-ends or conduct AGMs,” Galitzki said.

That’s certainly why Rodriguez got involved in June of 2021. At that time, mid-pandemic, the Jasper Food Bank was fielding unprecedented demand. Approximately 25 food hampers were being delivered to people’s doors. The Canada Emergency Response Benefit had closed but unemployment was still rampant, supply chain issues were still wide-reaching and the cost of living was rising. Wages, however, weren’t.

“I think the main problem was lower wages, high rent and the high cost of food,” Rodriguez said.

Those problems, of course, have carried on. But while the work may be urgent, it’s also gratifying. Rodriguez says volunteering with the Jasper Food Bank has rewards that weren’t readily apparent when she was first asked to help out.

“What I like the most is just knowing spending one hour of your day will help someone greatly,” she said. “It’s an amazing feeling, you’re sharing as neighbours and as members of the community. It doesn’t take long to make that connection.”

Moreover, Sigrist emphasized that there is food for those who need it and no one should feel the need to sacrifice if they could use the help. 

“We depend on the generosity of our community. Thankfully, we currently have the resources to meet the needs,” he said.