Volunteers from Calgary Transit and Calgary Co-Op stores across the city were busy helping Calgary residents Saturday by filling transit buses with donations during the 33rd annual event. Stuff the bus campaign.
Last year, Calgary residents donated more than 72,000 pounds of food and $80,000 in support of the Calgary Food Bank. Calgary Co-Op director of communications and loyalty Sage Pullen McIntosh told reporters the event is always a big day.
“To see so many people come in and buy food baskets, buy wish list items or donate at the checkout; getting on transit buses to make these donations,” McIntosh said. “We’re very proud to do this again.”
Calgary Mayor Jeromy Farkas walked through the aisles of the Oakridge Co-op with Calgary Food Bank President and CEO Melissa Frome. After placing the donation on the bus, Farkas said solving important problems in the city will require collaboration.
“There's a lot of controversy around poverty reduction, food insecurity and housing instability,” Farkas explained. “We need all parts of government to work together and that's really what our council is committed to.”
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According to Calgary Food Bank From September 1, 2024 to August 31, 2025, 135,526 unique people used the services. Of these, 63 percent were adults and 37 percent were children.
Melissa Frome with the Calgary Food Bank says the demand hasn't stopped.
“I feel like a broken record,” Frome said, “because I feel like it’s been two and a half years now: ‘We’re feeding more people, we’re feeding more people.’ I’m not sure I see an end to this crisis.”
Across the province, numbers are also rising. IN Hunger count 2025Food Banks Canada showed that with 127 food banks reporting, food bank use increased by 21.8% between 2024 and 2025. More than 36 percent of those in need were children, followed by people aged 31-44.
“On any given day, 800 families in our city come to the Calgary Food Bank to get seven to 10 days' worth of food,” Frome said. “We make sure they're getting a really well-balanced diet and getting everything they need, but we're definitely running at full capacity.”
Judging by preliminary indicators for 2026, there will be no economic slowdown.
“When we look at some of the economic forecasts for 2026, inflation is still rising,” Frome said. “Even if the pace slows down, the reality is that it hasn’t gone away or slowed down.”
Oth acknowledged that while not everyone can spare money or food to help those in need, time is valuable too.
“Three hundred Calgarians come to the Calgary Food Bank every day to donate their time,” beamed Frome.
Monetary donations of any size can go further with the Calgary Food Bank. The notes show that for every dollar received, Alberta taxpayers save $9.84.
The results of Saturday's Stuff A Bus campaign will be published shortly.
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