Skip to content

Community of Castor steps up to keep food bank shelves full during pandemic

The Castor Foodbank can be accessed by contacting the Castor and District FCSS office
23609579_web1_201217-CAS-FoodbankUpdate-update_1

By Kevin J. Sabo

For the Advance

The Castor Foodbank is in great shape heading into the 2020 holiday season.

Through massive local support in Castor, as well as its affiliations with Foodbanks Alberta and Foodbanks Canada, the Castor Foodbank is well stocked, and prepped to distribute hampers for the holidays.

“We are not wanting for anything,” said Castor Foodbank Manager Sue Goodkey.

“The Town, the businesses, and the oil companies have made it so easy for us this year with donations. With this pandemic and everything, people really stepped up to the plate.”

With the state of the pandemic-riddled economy, there was concern that use of the foodbank would rise through the summer and fall, however that hasn’t occurred.

“Demand has pretty much stayed the same this fall,” said Goodkey.

“The summer was slow; I think due to the government money. I was never overwhelmed. It was pretty much normal.”

For the upcoming Christmas season, Goodkey had 24 confirmed hampers going out on Dec. 23rd, and people had until Dec. 10th to request one.

The Castor Foodbank is stocked through public and private donations, and necessities are either purchased through local businesses or can be obtained through the Alberta Foodbanks warehouse in Leduc.

“They are a great help,” said Goodkey.

The Castor Foodbank can be accessed by contacting the Castor and District FCSS office at 403-882-2115.

Prospective clients of the Castor Foodbank do need to go through a screening process, however once approved, can access the service once a month.

“I have to ask personal questions,” said Goodkey.

“We’re not there to feed everybody every day, but we’re there to help people when they need it. We give them as much as we can, but they have to help themselves, too.”