BANFF – Just before 6 p.m. on Monday, a long line of people carrying empty shopping bags waited patiently inside Sundance Mall in Banff.
For staff at Banff Food Rescue, it's almost time to once again provide local residents with food that would otherwise have been thrown away in the trash.
Living in a town as expensive as a mountain tourist destination like Banff, buying a bag of groceries can be difficult for those who help provide visitors with a special experience within a national park. Spending a little cash on can go a long way.
But Banff Food Rescue has a problem it can no longer ignore.
This month, Alana Pettigrew, founder of Banff Food Rescue, plans to replace two old and broken freezer and refrigerator units used to store food. The cost is expected to exceed $6,000.
Until then, there are still some foods that Pettigrew wants to keep cold, and the organization is choosing which items it can tolerate and which it can't.
“Well, frankly, I think we're just in time,” Pettigrew said. “These two units are really important in terms of storage because they really need to be replaced.”
This nonprofit organization was founded in 2016 and is run entirely by volunteers. Open in the lower section of Sundance Mall on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 6 p.m. Food is donated by local grocery stores, restaurants and bakeries.
Two former volunteers, Thomas Robertson from Scotland and James Blackford from Colorado, have only been in Banff for about six months, but they have learned a lot from the challenges facing people in the town, including food security. I immediately noticed the problem. Banff was recently featured in a food documentary that looked at this issue.
Because of this, the pair decided to make a difference through fundraising.
“We found that Alana in particular benefited greatly from volunteering and fundraising. [Pettigrew]she really accomplished a lot,” Robertson said.
When Banff Food Rescue pulled the cord on an aging refrigerator and freezer, resulting in the nonprofit struggling to hold on to its normal amount of food, the two jumped, or rather ran, to the rescue. I did.
“We realized how important food rescue is to the community,” Robertson said.
Robertson and Blackford, who were already tasked with doing a community project through their local ski academy, Timberline, thought a fundraiser for new equipment would be a useful and worthy cause. Now they hope others will join the movement.
Throughout April, the pair ran three long distance runs in Banff National Park to raise money and publicity. Both challenges started in downtown Banff and shuttled between his two popular ski areas in the area.
The first was a 16km uphill trek up a winding road to Mount Norquay, and the second was a 37km jog to Sunshine Village.
The third challenge was the toughest, running 60km from Lake Louise to Banff, a blistering test of will.
“I love running, but I've never run that far before, so I thought what better way than to challenge myself and raise my awareness as much as I can,” Robertson said. Ta.
The fundraiser is on GoFundMe and has a goal of $7,000.
Pettigrew said it's incredible that even a short-term member of Banff can create a lasting impact.
“That's not a universal trait,” Pettigrew said. “They felt like it was something they wanted to do more of, and I thought that was great.”
Banff Food Rescue is always recruiting volunteers, and the departures of volunteers like Robertson and Blackford have been deeply felt in recent weeks.
“They were really important volunteers and really knew how to contribute and get the job done,” Pettigrew said. “They’ve done a great job and we’re definitely looking for someone to fill that role.”
For more information, visit the Banff Food Rescue Facebook page.
Other businesses in the community, such as Tim Hortons, are also helping provide funding to replace older units.
Food security is an issue in this expensive tourist destination in the mountains, where living standards are poorer than average. For example, food, gas, and housing are all more expensive than in most communities in Alberta.
“[Pettigrew] This has been eight years of hard work,” Robertson said. “Me and James have been doing some fundraising, but that's just a small part of what's been done.”
Since 2016, Banff Food Rescue has continued to feed the community in times of need. Giving back was close to Pettigrew's heart.
“I know that and so do you,” said Pettigrew. “If it makes things better for everyone, what's wrong with that?”