The Jasper Food Bank is closing its doors for the summer.

The organization made the announcement on June 7. 

“With the unprecedented uptick in food bank users, we do not have the supply or funding to continue at the level we are at during the busy summer months,” said Operations Manager Cristin Murphy.

The Jasper Food Bank Society is a volunteer-run, non-profit association which provides food and basic personal care items to locals in need. Volunteers collect and coordinate donations from individuals, businesses and other non-profit organizations in Jasper. Often those donations are in the form of non-perishable food items, sometimes it’s a monetary contribution.

Murphy said the group will take the summer to get better prepared for the fall.

“We will take the summer months to do a deep clean of the food bank and organize food drives to restock our shelves,” she said.

While closing for the summer is unprecedented for the Jasper Food Bank, Murphy said the practice is common at the food bank in Banff. The swell of Jasper’s summer population has increased the number of food bank users to an unsustainable degree. The food bank offers food support for those in need. It is not meant to be a replacement for people’s food budget.

“After careful consideration we have decided that [closing for the summer] is the most responsible decision for the longevity of our food bank,” she said.

This past winter, data from the Jasper Food Bank showed that food bank use doubled from 2022 to 2023 (July 1 to December 31). More than 350 individuals accessed the service, representing nearly 10 per cent of Jasper’s winter population. Most people (40 percent) who visited the Jasper Food Bank were between 25 and 35 years of age.

Additionally, nearly half of Food Bank visitors (47 percent) lived in staff housing and only 50 per cent of those who accessed the service had full-time jobs. 

Murphy said the seasonality of Jasper affected their decision to close for the summer.

“We hope that during the busy summer months, Jasperites have more opportunity to earn money and pay for food on their own,” she said.

Other options in Jasper for free or by-donation meals include the Jasper Food Recovery program, hosted at the Anglican Church Hall on Geikie Street, and the Jasper Food Alliance’s Soup For You and Community Fridge programs at the Jasper Activity Centre.

Residents can donate food or money to the Jasper Food Bank by contacting the Jasper Food Bank.

The most commonly needed items include baby food, canned soup, canned vegetables, canned meat, cereals, cooking oils, cookies & crackers, fruit cups, granola bars, household cleaning supplies, oatmeal, pasta & rice and personal hygiene items.

Bob Covey // bob@thejasperlocal.com