Re: Veterans Food Bank

by Viper Wed 17 Oct 2018, 12:46 pm

New food bank run by veterans, for veterans opens in Calgary

Sarah Rieger · CBC News · Posted: Oct 17, 2018

Veterans Food Bank - Page 2 Calgary-veterans-food-bank

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/veterans-association-food-bank-calgary-1.4866006

by Garrison Wed 07 Nov 2018, 12:56 pm

Care or confusion? 3 organizations vie for veterans food donations ahead of Remembrance Day

By Tracy Nagai . Global News
Posted November 7, 2018

Global News

by **SniperGod** Sat 22 Dec 2018, 4:17 pm

Veterans get together to help needy veterans in Calgary and area

Published Saturday, December 22, 2018

Members of the Canadian Armed Forces in Calgary got together for a special campaign to help some of their own for the holidays.

Several dozen veterans and military members from the King’s Own Calgary Regiment and 41 Service Battalion were at the Veterans Association Food Bank in northeast Calgary early in the morning to help in the effort to distribute Christmas hampers.

It’s the first time that the brand new facility has distributed hampers to veterans in need.

“We’re connecting with veterans and helping them out during the Christmas season and letting them know that they aren’t alone,” said Greg Girouard, one of the volunteers. “We’re vets helping vets.”

The hampers are filled with food, including a turkey, but it’s the company and the knowledge that they aren’t alone that organizers feel will help the most.

“I’m a Cold War vet so I never had to go overseas, but some of these combat vets, they’ve seen some atrocious stuff. They have survivor’s guilt and everyone has forgotten them. They’re trying to maintain and get through.”

Girouard says that through the connection of being veterans, they know what they’ve all gone through and there is a bond of trust between them.

The group has packed between 80 and 100 hampers to be delivered to veterans in Strathmore, Langdon, High River, Okotoks, Airdrie, Black Diamond, Cochrane and within Calgary itself.

Any veterans who are in need of additional help can visit the VAFB, at 2916 5 Avenue N.E. on Monday, December 24. The facility will be closed on the 25 and 26.

Anyone who knows of a veteran who could use some help over the holidays can contact the Food Bank by calling 403-367-8387 (FOR VETS).

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/veterans-get-together-to-help-needy-veterans-in-calgary-and-area-1.4228946

by Ringo Mon 28 Jan 2019, 8:34 am

Veterans food bank dinner 'an escape' for service members in need

RYAN RUMBOLT January 27, 2019

Calgary Herald

by Terrarium Mon 18 Mar 2019, 8:34 pm

Veterans Association Food Bank gets boost from Canadian Legacy Project

RYAN RUMBOLT March 18, 2019

Veterans Food Bank - Page 2 Cal-111516-gyb-3

David Howard, founder of the Canadian Legacy Project, said the group has joined forces with the Veterans Association Food Bank to help the association with AA meetings, events, operating a Veteran’s Lounge, and an Emergency Assistance program.

Calgary’s veterans don’t have to soldier on alone in times of need thanks to a new partnership between the Veterans Association Food Bank and the Canadian Legacy Project.

The food bank is among a few charities in Calgary providing food hampers to retired and active Canadian Armed Forces members, and the Canadian Legacy Project supports veterans through events and advocacy programs such as the Homes For Heroes project.

Run by veterans for veterans, the food bank honours the sacrifices of serving Canadians through outreach programs, food hampers and monthly dinners for the veterans they serve.

By joining forces, Legacy Project founder Dave Howard said the association will be able to help with AA meetings, events, operating a veterans’ lounge and even an emergency assistance program to assist with PTSD-related issues.

“I think what you have here is wraparound servicing, which is needed . . . (the food bank) now is dedicated to the first-line response, and it’s not just about the food,” Howard said.

Howard said veterans are able to access the Calgary Food Bank “but the vets aren’t comfortable going there,” adding the Veterans Association Food Bank provides the kind of camaraderie only CAF members know.

“Our vets were telling us ‘we need a place’ . . . They created this family network. They’re here to help you and that is so important,” he said.

The partnership will also ensure the issues that keep veterans coming back to the food bank get dealt with.

“We can help get food on the table because Calgary is so generous . . . but if we’re going to be giving that vet food every month for the next 10 years, is that really helping?”

The Legacy Project used to be affiliated with the now-shuttered Calgary Veterans Food Bank, running an annual charity food drive to collect non-perishable donations.

That food bank closed in September, months ahead of a planned January shutdown, leaving a number of veterans groups scrambling to find alternative programs.

Partnering with the Veterans Association Food Bank means the Legacy Project will once again run its food drive this year, with Howard saying plans are in the works for a fall event.

RRumbolt@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @RCRumbolt

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/veterans-association-food-bank-gets-boost-from-canadian-legacy-project

by Magnum Sat 15 Jun 2019, 9:12 am

Garage sale serves as rallying point for veterans community

Published Friday, June 14, 2019

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/garage-sale-serves-as-rallying-point-for-veterans-community-1.4467606

by Wolverine Sun 01 Sep 2019, 9:25 am

Never too early to give veterans a helping hand

Published:
September 1, 2019

Calgary Sun

by **Stayner** Sun 22 Sep 2019, 8:50 am

Donations stack up for Calgary veterans at food drive

STEPHANIE BABYCH September 21, 2019

Veterans Food Bank - Page 2 Cs20190921jw740_74013496-e1569121126428

Veterans and volunteers drop off and collect donations at the Veterans Association Food Bank "Food Drive and Fund Raiser” at the Canadian Tire in northwest Calgary on Saturday, September 21, 2019. Jim Wells/Postmedia

Veterans were eager to help each other Saturday at a food drive hosted by the Veterans Association Food Bank in the parking lot of Dalhousie Canadian Tire.

Boxes of food and household necessities were stacked in a transport truck, as donations came in to support veterans on the anniversary of the closure of legion’s Veterans’ Food Bank last September. In an effort to fill the gap, a group of veterans got together to start the Veterans Association Food Bank which is one of two veterans’ food banks in the city.

The food drive will assist in providing veterans and their families meals and supplies going into the holiday season. Marie Blackburn, the food bank’s operations manager, said they estimate they’ll give out 200 hampers for their Christmas campaign.

“We have a place where veterans can come and feel safe. They can come for a coffee, they can come to get their paperwork filled out for Veteran’s Affairs but for most of the veterans who come through our doors it’s a place where they can sit with one of their brothers,” said Blackburn.

Motorcycles were lined up in the parking lot, as many veterans walked around in biker vests with matching Veterans Association emblems on the back and “Brotherhood” patches on the front.

Thomas Brown, a veteran helping with the donations coming in, said members of the Veterans Association stand together no matter where they came back from, to support their brothers and sisters in need.

“We do our thing for the people while we’re in the military and we would like some support back from those people to help out,” said Brown, adding that even an easy $5 donation goes a long way.

Veteran Greg Paul said it’s important for veterans to step up because there isn’t enough outside assistance for those who’ve served the country.

“Most of the young kids don’t believe you’re a veteran because you’re not 90, and they say to me, how can you be a veteran because you’re not old enough? It’s because we aren’t teaching them that we’ve gone through a lot of wars and there are still a lot of places we are coming back from,” said Paul.

Blackburn said the funds and food raised during the drive will feed families and provide veterans with whatever it takes to keep them healthy.

sbabych@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @BabychStephanie

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/donations-stack-up-for-calgary-veterans-at-food-drive

by **Stayner** Sun 22 Sep 2019, 8:53 am

Published Saturday, September 21, 2019

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/veterans-rally-support-on-anniversary-of-food-bank-closure-1.4604125

by **Vexmax** Mon 07 Oct 2019, 1:26 pm

$12k for veterans food bank

Laura Brookes - Oct 7, 2019

https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/267588/12k-for-veterans-food-bank

by Wolverine Thu 10 Oct 2019, 8:42 am

Former soldier sets out on ‘awesome journey’ to Mt. Kilimanjaro to support Calgary veterans

BY GIL TUCKER - GLOBAL NEWS
Posted October 9, 2019

https://globalnews.ca/news/6012412/former-soldier-climb-mt-kilimanjaro-support-calgary-veterans/

by Cooper Thu 07 Nov 2019, 7:36 pm

Food bank for Calgary veterans in desperate need of food, cash donations

Posted November 7, 2019

https://globalnews.ca/news/6138735/calgary-veterans-association-food-bank-needs-donations/

by Cooper Thu 07 Nov 2019, 7:45 pm

Need for donations at critical point, says veterans' food bank

BILL KAUFMANN November 7, 2019

https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/need-for-donations-at-critical-point-says-veterans-food-bank

by **Vexmax** Sun 22 Dec 2019, 8:41 am

Veterans Association Food Bank handing out hampers in Calgary

Published Saturday, December 21, 2019

https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/veterans-association-food-bank-handing-out-hampers-in-calgary-1.4740070

by Cooper Fri 14 Feb 2020, 1:15 pm

Feb 14. 2020

We’re learning more about “Vets for Pets” – a Valentine’s fundraiser supporting the Veteran’s Food Bank

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