Medicine Hat's Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub is one of several local organizations feeling the effects of inflation and the rising cost of food.--NEWS PHOTO KENDALL KING
kking@medicinehatnews.com
Local food security non-profit organizations are working to maintain services while managing the impacts of inflation and increased cost of living.
“Inflation and rising costs of goods and services are definitely having an impact on everyone, whether we’re feeling it personally or feeling it as an organization,” Mustard Seed of Medicine Hat managing director Colette Eirich told the News.
“We’re witnessing a surge in numbers of clients being served (but) we’ve had to make a few cutbacks because the donations aren’t as much (as they used to be).”
Serving approximately 700-800 hot meals per week, Medicine Hat’s Mustard Seed relies heavily on donations of food from community partners, as well as community members. But over the past year, Eirich says she’s seen an almost simultaneous decrease in the amount of food donated concurrent with an increase in the cost of it.
As such, the organization – which operates locations in Medicine Hat, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer and Kamloops – has had to adjust its food program, upping the estimated cost of each meal provided from $3.51 to $5.38 as of September.
Eirich says she and her team have also had to make changes to the types of meals they provide, offering recipes that utilize whichever foods are on hand or most affordable, as increased cost of fresh foods and meats used in their meals has put strain on the organization’s overall budget.
The Mustard Seed surpassed its $1.87-million meal budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year as of July 31.
Other organizations are reporting similar impacts, such as Medicine Hat’s Root Cellar Food and Wellness Hub, which provides food to individuals as well as other local food security organizations, like the Mustard Seed.
“We’re definitely not immune to inflation, so we have noticed a huge increase in the amount that it costs us to purchase food,” Root Cellar executive director Melissa Mullis said. “And we are seeing a drastic increase in clients. We’re feeding between 1,700 and 2,000 families a month right now. And those are historically high numbers for our organization.”
While Mullis says the Root Cellar is getting by thanks to support from grocery partners, as well as the community, she is concerned about the impact inflation is having for Hatters, as well as others in Alberta.
“Right now, Alberta is the highest usage in the country for food banks,” she said. “And this isn’t a problem that’s just going to go away. So, we should all be concerned.”
Nevertheless, Mullis assures Hatters the Root Cellar will continue working to provide all area residents with food, both directly or through its inter-organizational resource-sharing program.
“And we really want to encourage people if they need help, to reach out (by either) calling to make an appointment at 403-528-4313, ext. 1 or emailing intake@mhfoodbank.com,” said Mullis.
