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Beyond Lunch: Calgary Program Builds Community to Tackle Food Insecurity
19 Aug
Summary
- Organization provides free lunches to roughly 8,000 Calgary kids daily.
- 700 volunteers weekly support the lunch program for K-12 students.
- Research focuses on community support beyond immediate food needs.
Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids (BB4CK) has dedicated 35 years to providing free lunches for children in Calgary. The organization currently supplies lunches to approximately 8,000 students daily across 290 schools, relying on the support of around 700 volunteers each week.
BB4CK's commitment extends beyond immediate food provision. A research project, initiated by families accessing their services, investigated the broader support systems needed by those experiencing food insecurity. This collaborative effort, involving the University of Calgary, underscores the critical role of social connections and community networks.
The research found that families require assistance in building friendships and support networks. These connections enable them to address larger factors contributing to food insecurity, such as budgeting, accessing culturally appropriate foods, and coordinating transportation for services.
As BB4CK moves to a larger facility to enhance its cold storage capacity, its core mission of community-driven support remains strong. The organization continues to rely entirely on donations, with an ongoing need for both financial contributions and volunteers to sustain its operations.
