Massages At October Giving Clinics Support Alberta Food Banks
Because this is a holiday about appreciating what we have, and helping those with less, our October Giving Clinics will be supporting our local food banks.
On October 25th in Calgary and October 27th in Edmonton, every dollar from our student-run massage clinics will be donated to the Calgary Food Bank and Edmonton’s Food Bank. Book your appointment now to participate!
About Vicars School Giving Clinics
Our Giving Clinic program is a reflection of our values as a school and is our way of giving back to the communities we love. Each month, we dedicate one student clinic day in Edmonton and one in Calgary to a cause that aligns with our values. On these days, 100% of student massage fees are donated to the chosen organizations. We schedule Giving Clinics on high-demand days to maximize the impact of our donations.
You can help boost the impact of our giving clinics by booking a massage on those days, by telling a friend about our clinics, or by supporting the organizations directly.
Why Food Banks Need Our Help
Both the Calgary Food Bank and Edmonton’s Food Bank are regular fixtures in our Giving Clinic calendar. That’s because they’re incredible organizations who do important work in our communities, and—unfortunately—the need for their services is as high as ever in Alberta right now.
We partnered with them twice in 2024, in June and December. This is what we had to say on our blog then:
[In June 2024], Food Banks Alberta was calling the steep rise in food bank customers a state of emergency. The need has only grown since then. Food banks have seen the crisis continue into 2024 because of inflation, higher interest rates affecting mortgages, rental and retail food price increases, all of which translates into less purchasing power for individuals and families.
Diminishing social assistance resources in Alberta is also a big factor, and those affected are not just the unemployed. There has been a sharp increase in working people who are struggling to make ends meet. One-third of program recipients are children.
Sadly, the demand for food bank services hasn’t gone down in the last year.
And food banks don’t just help people put meals on the table.
Both the Calgary and Edmonton food banks supply their clients with other must-haves such as diapers and other baby care items, hygiene products like shampoo and deodorant, and pet food. The Calgary Food Bank’s wish list also includes birthday party supplies like cake mix and candles – another way that they help families find joy and maintain a sense of normalcy during a difficult time.
Both organizations also offer additional programming and support. In addition to providing food hampers at multiple locations in the city, the Calgary Food Bank runs a school lunch program (in partnership with the Breakfast Club of Canada), provides food and supplies to other qualified organizations for distribution through their Food Link program, does outreach to unhoused communities, and more.
Through their Beyond Food initiative, Edmonton’s Food Bank partners with other organizations in the city to help their clients access a wide range of services. Supports range from literacy and education classes, employment preparation like resume-building and interview training sessions as well as job fairs, financial and tax services, and a wide range of assistance navigating other social services.
While this fundraiser is directed to those serving Calgary and Edmonton, the need is high across the country. Whether you’re reading this in Golden, Medicine Hat, Saskatoon, or anywhere else in Canada, please consider making a one-time or monthly donation to your nearest food bank. You won’t have to look far, sadly: there are 113 within the Alberta Food Banks Association alone, and any one of them could use your help.
