Veterans Food Bank

by Zapper Thu 19 Jul 2018, 8:45 pm

Published Thursday, July 19, 2018

Calgary's Veterans' Food Bank to close early next year

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/calgary-s-veterans-food-bank-to-close-early-next-year-1.4020559

by Dragonforce Sat 21 Jul 2018, 9:06 am

Calgary Veterans Food Bank closure could leave 'huge gap' in services, says volunteer

Sarah Rieger, Lucie Edwardson · CBC News · Posted: Jul 20, 2018

Veterans Food Bank Calgary-veterans-food-bank

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-veterans-food-bank-1.4755834

by **Hammercore** Mon 23 Jul 2018, 7:16 am

Closure of Veterans Food Bank came as shock to its supporters

Sammy Hudes

Published Jul 22, 2018

Dan Forde remembers the first time he needed to use the Veterans Food Bank in Calgary.

He said he felt a sense of emptiness, one the 10-year veteran of the Canadian Forces struggled to shake.

“I sat out in the parking lot for an hour and a half in my vehicle before I could go in and I’m sure I was beet red because I felt humiliated,” Forde said. “I felt broken and defeated. The only reason I was even able to go in there was because I knew, that’s for veterans.”

Soon, that won’t be an option. The Royal Canadian Legion’s Alberta and Northwest Territories Command said last week the food bank will be shutting down in January 2019 to free up funding for other initiatives.

Forde, who served in the military from 1986 to 1996, said that like many other veterans, he’s angry about the closure.

“They deal with veterans, they know how we react, how we talk, how we think. There’s that familiarity there,” he said. “To use a civilian food bank, we would still have those emotions, but then you’re dealing with people who don’t know how we think.”

The charity, which offered assistance to current and former members of the Canadian Armed Forces, has struggled at times to provide much-needed hampers to veterans.

The Veterans Food Bank is bankrolled by donations to the legion’s Poppy Fund charity. A legion spokesman said last week the decision to close the food bank was made by the charity’s board members to free up funds for other services, as it seeks to provide a “more holistic” approach while addressing the financial, mental and physical issues veterans face.

The food bank brought in about $250,000 between October 2017 and June 2018, according to the minutes obtained by Postmedia from a meeting last month between Poppy Fund directors.

But the food bank needed about $500,000 per year in cash donations to keep it alive, a mark it had historically not been able to reach. About $300,000 in donations were received per year in 2015 and 2016, according to the minutes of the meeting.

The motion to close the food bank passed despite dissent, including from Bowness legion president Brian Grewcutt, who chaired the meeting and was not entitled to vote.

The decision came as a surprise to the Canadian Legacy Project, an organization that supports veterans through charity and advocacy work.

CEO Melanie Mitra said the Canadian Legacy Project had long supported the food bank but backed away in 2017 because it was under the impression it was well-resourced.

“They had about $2.5 million in reserve. We felt the need was being addressed and that made it so that we could divert our attention to other areas of need that were maybe not getting as much support,” Mitra said.

“We were surprised when we heard that announcement and we contacted the Poppy Fund almost right away and put some recommendations forward to them for how to make sure the Veterans Food Bank wasn’t disrupted. Now, whether that was the Canadian Legacy Project coming in and taking it on, whether that is a group of partners we brought together to manage it, it doesn’t matter who does it. What’s important is that the solution’s in place.”

Mitra said the group was expecting its proposal to be approved, but the legion instead moved forward with plans to close down the food bank. She said she was especially confused because, with the closure not slated until next year, there would have been time for another funding drive to try to save it from closing.

“It doesn’t look right,” she said. “Clearly, there was a group of people ready to come together to say, ‘Let’s solve this.’”

Forde said there’s been talk among veterans about a potential rally to save the food bank. He also said some veteran-focused organization not associated with the legion have talked about starting its own version.

“Unfortunately, it is necessary right now. We should have them across Canada, but we don’t,” he said. “When it came to me, I found it humiliating. I was a soldier. My job was to protect Canada, to protect the citizens of Canada, protect the innocent. That’s what soldiers look out (for), we want to be the protectors, we don’t want to be the person needing help.”

Calgary Herald

by Viper Wed 25 Jul 2018, 7:17 pm

Mixed Reaction Over The Closure Of The Veterans Food Bank

Written by Derek Craddock Wednesday, Jul 25 2018

Airdrie News

by Saulman Thu 02 Aug 2018, 2:27 pm

Firefighters fill shelves mid-season for veterans

Lindsay Seewalt
Aug 2, 2018

Off-duty Cochrane firefighters are looking to the generosity of the community to remember and feed those less fortunate in between holiday seasons. Tomorrow marks the firefighters’ final push for donations for the Veterans Food Bank – a Calgary-based organization that helps veterans make ends meet – and local firefighters are encouraging people with an extra few cans, tins or gift cards to drop them off at the Protective Services Centre at 20 Grande Blvd.

“They need the help and a lot of the time they’re too proud to ask for it,” said firefighter Alex Vague. While new to the detachment, the New Zealander spent nearly seven years in the military – between the New Zealand Army and the British Royal Marines – and is well aware of the pride that can prevent ensuring basic needs are met, especially among elderly veterans. “This time of year the stocks can sometimes run a little low of necessities as it’s just before the traditionally busy donation period around Remembrance Day,” said Vague, adding that the timing also coincides with the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele on July 31 where 4,000 Canadians were killed and some 12,000 were injured.

“There are a number of veterans who struggle with transitioning from military life into civilian life,” said Melanie Mitra - the CEO of the Canadian Legacy Project (CLP). The CLP is an 11-year-long volunteer-directed and managed registered charity that supports a broad spectrum of support for veterans, from housing to health and wellness to food and more.

The firefighters’ initiative, which is separate from the November push they will embark upon to ensure bare shelves brim with food, hits close to home for the first responder community this year with talks of shuttering the doors of the Veterans Food Bank, which is run by the Calgary Poppy Fund, by Jan. 31, 2019.

The Calgary Poppy Fund made headlines earlier this year, with accusations that the charity had misused funds, improperly issued tax receipts and failed to properly account for employee expenses. Mitra said the CLP had officially approached the Calgary Poppy Fund to take over the food bank earlier this year, which was met favourably at the local level but rejected by the Royal Canadian Legion Alberta N.W.T. Command – who the poppy fund answers to.

“There are lots of questions around what’s going on here ... I think the public has the right to ask questions and to know. There are questions around transparency ...” said Mitra, with respect to the reasoning provided – that it would be more efficient to redistribute resources through other means than to continue with the food bank.

Mitra said the CLP has committed to meeting with veterans and other organizations to see if a solution can be achieved. Should this be the outcome, the CLP could provide support at that time. “The Legion has made their decision ... at this point, we’re moving on and we’re now concerned that a good solution is put in place,” she said, adding that one positive about the conversation is putting food security for veterans in the spotlight.

Cochrane firefighter Dave Levisky has been supporting the Veterans Food Bank for several years and is hopeful a solution will soon be achieved to ensure those veterans reliant on the resources provided by the food bank will not be overlooked.

“We have reached out to several local veterans organizations to see if we can assist in any way to support their efforts in continuing the Veterans Food Bank.

With several veterans in the Fire Service, it hits close to home and it is our hope the Veterans Food Bank continues in some format and that our community and surrounding communities of Calgary can support this worthy cause,” said Levisky.

“I wish the need for a Veterans Food Bank was not a necessity, but in today’s reality, it’s important that this safety net is available to any veteran in need.”

Cochrane Today News

by Rekert Thu 09 Aug 2018, 9:09 pm

Calgary’s veterans worried about a future without the Veterans Food Bank

By MARY GETANEHStarMetro Calgary
Thu., Aug. 9, 2018

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/08/09/calgarys-veterans-worried-about-a-future-without-the-veterans-food-bank.html

by **Victor** Wed 29 Aug 2018, 12:18 pm

Group plans to open new Calgary food bank for veterans after current one closes

Published Wednesday, August 29, 2018

CTV News

by Leopard Wed 29 Aug 2018, 5:25 pm

Veterans stepping up to open new food bank in Calgary

By MARY GETANEHStarMetro Calgary

Wed., Aug. 29, 2018

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/08/29/veterans-stepping-up-to-open-new-food-bank-in-calgary.html

by **Diesel** Fri 21 Sep 2018, 8:25 pm

Staff let go, doors locked, months ahead of planned closure of Calgary Veterans Food Bank

Published Friday, September 21, 2018

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/staff-let-go-doors-locked-months-ahead-of-planned-closure-of-calgary-veterans-food-bank-1.4104666

by Ironman Sat 22 Sep 2018, 7:34 am

‘CLOSED’: Doors shuttered at Calgary Veteran’s Food Bank months ahead of schedule

By Heide Pearson
Online Journalist . Global News
September 21, 2018

Global News

by Dragonforce Sun 23 Sep 2018, 3:57 pm

'We have to go to Plan B': Veterans Food Bank shuttered ahead of schedule

RYAN RUMBOLT September 23, 2018

Calgary Herald

by **Silversun** Thu 27 Sep 2018, 9:06 pm

Royal Canadian Legion and Calgary Food Bank partner in support of veterans

Published Thursday, September 27, 2018

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/royal-canadian-legion-and-calgary-food-bank-partner-in-support-of-veterans-1.4112623

by Jeremiah Tue 02 Oct 2018, 8:08 pm

Emergency food services could soon be on the way for Calgary veterans

By ANDREW JEFFREYStarMetro Calgary
Tues., Oct. 2, 2018

Veterans Food Bank _1f7a0043

https://www.thestar.com/calgary/2018/10/01/emergency-food-services-could-soon-be-on-the-way-for-calgary-veterans.html

by **Vexmax** Tue 16 Oct 2018, 6:11 am

'We’re helping our own': Still in need of funding, volunteers launch new food bank for veterans

SAMMY HUDES October 15, 2018

Calgary Herald

by **Vexmax** Tue 16 Oct 2018, 6:12 am

Food bank dedicated to helping Calgary veterans opens its doors in Northeast Calgary

Published Monday, October 15, 2018

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/food-bank-dedicated-to-helping-calgary-veterans-opens-its-doors-in-northeast-calgary-1.4135665

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