How a local food donation centre is changing the lives of many in the Pincher Creek area. 

When the opportunity to become a full-time staff member opened up, Kathleen jumped at the chance. “This position found me,” she says. “It was really neat.”

Today Kathleen wears many hats — she runs the administrative side of the organization from her desk and the everyday operation tasks like weighing and picking up donations from the community drop-off locations. “It’s many many many little jobs,” she says, but it’s a job that means so much to so many.

One of Kathleen’s favourite memories of her time at the Food Centre was when a family who had just moved from Ukraine came through the doors searching for help. Although they didn’t speak much English, Kathleen knew they were grateful. “The look on their face when they left with all that food, knowing they didn’t have to worry… It means the world,” she says. 

Although many community members rely on the Food Centre when they’re in need, the Food Centre also relies on its community members for help. A big part of Kathleen’s role is engaging the community to donate and spread the Food Centre’s message. “[Donations] are a huge help, but also reducing the stigma attached [with food hampers] so more people will come to the Food Centre when they’re in need,” she says. 

Kathleen and the Food Centre’s board members are working on expanding the organization by partnering with a local community garden to reduce the cost of fresh produce for the hampers and applying for as many grants as possible to help more people in the area.

In the early spring of 2023, the centre received $16,800 from Food Banks Canada’s Capacity Boost Grant. The grant went towards purchasing two large deep freezers and two stand-up coolers. “The fridges and freezers have really allowed us more freedom to have holding space, so if we do have a large donation, we can accept it all,” says Kathleen.

The centre recently received a Vision Credit Union Helping Hand Grant for $6,837 to replace the building’s 1960s heating system and install air conditioning to combat the unbearable heat in the summer months. This new air conditioning system will help not only Kathleen and the volunteers stay cool and comfortable when organizing the hampers, but it will help maintain the perfect temperature for food storage as well.

Although the Food Centre has come a long way in the last few years, Kathleen dreams that one day it will be a place for both learning and community building. “I would love to have a kitchen somehow incorporated into this place where we can teach people to make nutritious food that costs less but feeds more,” she says. 

Until that dream becomes a reality, Kathleen encourages the Pincher Creek and area community to donate, either money or food, to the centre — and she can’t wait to meet you! “I love getting out there, acquiring more donations, and meeting the donators,” she says. “There are so many kind people in the area. It’s amazing.”