Calgary Family Peer Connections helping feed local families in need

By Alejandra Pulido-Guzman - Lethbridge Herald on December 18, 2021.

LETHBRIDGE HERALDapulido@lethbridgeherald.com

The Calgary Family Peer Connections provided boxes of food for those in need on Thursday, thanks to a call from a local business that wanted to do their part in feeding some families over the holidays.
On Thursday CFPC brought an initiative they have been working on for over a year to Polished Janitorial Supply on 2A Avenue North. The organization brought pallets of food that were donated by Second Harvest, to distribute them drive-thru style for people who donated $20 and received $200-$300 worth of food, with the idea of helping others in their community.
“That is what we are doing here, with Polished they work really hard, they came to us and asked us if we could bring this to Lethbridge,” said Jaquie Duhacek, founder and senior director of CFPC.
She said they have encountered people from Lethbridge in Fort Macleod gathering food because CFPC specialize in things that are gluten free which some people cannot afford.
“It is a drive-thru, so it is a safe way of getting a large amount of food out to the community and to community members, so at any time, whatever the restrictions are put down by the government, we just abide by the rules,” said Duhacek.
She said they have done the same drive-thru style food distribution in Champion, Carmangay, Nanton, Barons and Raymond.
“We are willing to work with any church group, community group, any type of group that work together to meet needs of community members,” said Duhacek.
She said they do not have to be a not-for-profit organization or a society, they just have to have a formal way of giving to other people.
“In the year 2021 $5.5 million worth of food helped another 47 agencies, right now in Lethbridge we are providing food and working with the soup kitchen and the Lethbridge Food Bank,” said Duhacek.
She said they are providing both organizations with food, and are also helping other agencies that require supports to feed other people.
“We work with other agencies to make sure that they are able to meet the needs of their clients and the families and the individuals that they support,” said Duhacek.
She said that as much as they love helping those in need, they are struggling financially as they do not have any funding.
“Our costs are astronomical, our cost right now to hold the food and to transport the food down, we are spending $20,000 a month,” said Duhacek.
She explained that the $20 donations collected at the drive-thru will be used to purchase toys for children. And they need funds to continue to feed many families and individuals in need.
“We are Alberta’s largest food rescue agency and we are the only program of this kind at least in Western Canada,” said Duhacek.
She explained that due to the fact they are the only program on this side of the country their numbers are high.
For more information and to donate, visit http://www.calgaryfpc.com

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