JASPER – Amid a continuing need following the 2024 wildfire, the Jasper Food Bank is not planning to take a break this summer.
Blaine Wylde, operations manager at the Jasper Food Bank, noted that many residents depended on summer income.
“Without having that last year, that set them back quite a bit, and we just see that there’s still quite a bit of need right now as people are still trying to get back their savings and whatnot,” Wylde said.
She added skipping this break was possible due to the food bank receiving sufficient food and monetary donations.
“And so we feel like we’re in a way better position this year to keep offering that service and keep helping out Jasperites who are still struggling right now,” she said.
Last year before the wildfire, the food bank decided to take a break in July and August, similar to its Banff counterpart.
Wylde explained work was typically more abundant in the summer. This break allows the food bank to stretch its budget and gives habitual users a chance to reevaluate whether they still needed to rely on this service.
The food bank board has yet to discuss whether they will reimplement this summer break in future years.
After its location was destroyed in the wildfire, the food bank was temporarily housed in the Jasper Legion followed by the Olive Bistro. It has since moved into an ATCO trailer at the Jasper Activity Centre parking lot.
Although operating out of the trailer since mid-February, the food bank held its official grand opening on Saturday (May 31), featuring a free barbecue where residents were invited to see the new space and ask questions.
“I think mostly people were just interested in how we operate and what it looks like inside the food bank,” Wylde said. “We’re able to take them through and show them the intake process, talk about how we offer produce and meat and dairy and then the shopping-model style that we have where people can pick the things that they want and leave the things that they wouldn’t use.”
Demand has remained consistent since the trailer opened, with the food bank distributing around 65 hampers each week. It has also been seeing many new households, getting 10 or 15 new clients each week.
“Since the numbers are staying the same, I guess that means there’s other people who have been using the food bank who are maybe not needing it as much anymore,” Wylde said. “So, lots of new people, but then lots of the other clients don’t quite need it as much as the summer jobs pick up.”
Many clients are newcomers to town who haven’t received their first paycheque, while other clients can’t find work, are unable to work or are a single parent. Wylde highlighted increasing rent and food prices also contributed to the need.
She emphasized the food bank was for short-term emergency relief and wanted to distinguish the food bank from the Jasper Food Recovery, which helped keep food from grocery stores out of the landfill.
“The food bank relies on donations, and those donations come from people whose intention is to feed the people most in need in Jasper,” she added.
Wylde highlighted the support received from the Municipality of Jasper, Red Cross, TD Bank, Rotary District 5370, Canadian Tire Hinton, the Alberta Blue Cross and other groups.
While physical donations are accepted, monetary donations are preferred as they allow the food bank to put the money toward items it is lacking and purchase new items when space becomes available.
Séan McCann from Great Big Sea will be performing a solo show at the Baptist Church on June 13 as a fundraiser for the Jasper Food Bank. Tickets are available on Eventbrite.
The food bank is open Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with no appointment required. For more information, contact 780-931-5327, send an email or visit the food bank’s website.
