Food bank operators in Peace River, Slave Lake and High Prairie say demand is rising. They say higher grocery prices, fuel, utilities, housing costs and wider affordability pressures are pushing more working people, families and newcomers toward emergency food support.

Margaret Davie, who has run the Peace River Salvation Army food bank for six years, says the increase in demand has been significant. She says many people who previously would not have used the food bank are now coming for help because price hikes have made it harder to cover basic needs.

“People on Alberta’s Assured Income for the Severely Handicapped program (AISH) used to be able to make it but now they can’t,” Davie says. “They come about every 28 days.”

Davie says the Peace River food bank can provide a full hamper every 28 days. The food bank operates Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:30 a.m. to noon and sometimes stays open later for clients who have to travel to receive hampers, she says.

In Slave Lake, Barb Courtorielle, executive director of the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre says her organization is also seeing more demand.

Courtorielle says funding and donations have not kept pace with the need. She says the centre receives support from local businesses including Sobeys, Walmart, No Frills and Shoppers Drug Mart, but many donations are not nutritious enough to meet the needs of clients.

“The economy is poor and people are not donating like they once did,” Courtorielle says. “It’s really starting to impact us.”

In High Prairie, food bank coordinator Kim Dumont says they have also seen a large increase in demand over the past two years. She says donations of both food and funds have slowed.

Dumont, who will mark 20 years as coordinator in September, says the pressures are being felt on both sides: more clients need help, while donors are less able to give because their own costs have climbed.
“It has lots to do with what’s going on in the economy when you look at bills, fuel and groceries,” Dumont says. “All of these increases play a huge part in our clients’ financial situation as well as our donors, as they cannot donate as much as previously due to the high cost of living.”

Davie says the Peace River food bank is also primarily run on donations and has limited grant options for food purchases. She says some grants are aimed at staffing or equipment, not food, and that the public may not realize food banks often have to purchase supplies.

Dumont says one misconception is that food banks receive government funding. She says the High Prairie food bank relies on grants, fundraisers and donations to support daily operations, and that more grant funding could help cover essentials such as food, power and utilities.

“We don’t get our food for free,” Davie says. “I have a budget, but there’s no way that the budget I have can pay for food. I can’t even get a bag of food for $10.”

The local reports reflect a wider trend.

Food Banks Canada’s 2025 Hunger Count reported nearly 2.2 million visits to Canadian food banks in March 2025, almost double the level recorded in 2019. They also reported that about one in five food bank clients were employed, a sign that work is not always enough to cover essentials.

Alberta has also seen its fair share of increase.

Food Banks Canada data reported by Global News showed Alberta averaged 210,541 food bank visits per month in 2025, up 21.8 per cent from the previous year. More than one-third of those visits were for children under 18.

Local operators say steady donations are especially important outside the Christmas season.

Davie says giving usually rises around Christmas, then drops off by the end of January, even though need continues. She says the Peace River food bank is seeing at least two new families on each food bank day.

Dumont says the High Prairie food bank has been seeing between three and five new applicants over the past year. Davie wants more people to know the food bank is trying to expand service.

Courtorielle says she hopes government grant programs become available to help food banks keep pace with demand. Dumont says any support can make a difference, whether it is food, funds or volunteering.

Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader