A Calgary non-profit that’s been hard at work for years packing lunches for thousands of students says their services are needed for more children than ever before.
Brown Bagging for Calgary Kids (BB4CK), prepares lunches for 7,500 children on a daily basis, an increase by more than 15 per cent from the 6,500 they delivered daily last year.
“We’re in every neighborhood,” said Stephanie Gauthier, BB4CK’s operational director.
“One in three children in Calgary experience food insecurity. This is our community, and there’s a growing need.”
This rising demand is concerning for volunteers like Marco Civitarese.
“When I started four and a half years ago, it was half the amount,” he said. “It’s almost doubled.”
Char Urdu started volunteering with BB4CK in August.
“When I heard 7,500 sandwiches a day? Wow, holy cow. What’s going on?” she said.
“It’s disturbing but it’s reality. …