Food Bank Eases Stress on Young Family

Lara (not her real name) considers herself a workaholic. She used to juggle three jobs and did everything she could to earn enough to help her family live comfortably. That changed after the birth of her second child.

With daycare costs rising and two children under three, Lara chose to put her family first and became a full-time mom, while her husband continued working. The decision allowed her to be present for her children, but it also brought financial challenges, especially with three little ones to support.

“Everyone there is so kind and welcoming.”

Last year, Lara discovered The Salvation Army food bank in High River, Alta. Since then, life has been far less stressful for her household.

“Of course, our priority are the kids,” Lara says. “A friend told me about The Salvation Army food bank, and it’s been really good. Everyone there is so kind and welcoming. I’m happy about that.”

The support came at a critical moment. Like many people across the country, Lara has seen inflation drive up grocery prices month after month.

“When I came to Canada in 2013, $100 could buy a lot. Now, it only covers a few things,” she adds.

With The Salvation Army’s help, Lara estimates she saves around $300 on groceries each month.

“For my family, that’s a huge help,” she says.

The money saved now goes toward other expenses for their children, including clothing, baby food and diapers for the youngest.

“Now that we have the food bank, I can buy a little extra.”

The Salvation Army also helped the family this past Christmas by providing gifts for the children. This gesture made the holiday season especially joyful.

Today, with the food bank’s help, grocery shopping is no longer a source of anxiety.

“Before, things were a lot tighter. We had to stick to a strict budget and focus on essentials. Now that we have the food bank, I can buy a little extra,” Lara says.

In 2024, The Salvation Army in Canada provided 104,000 nutritional snacks and food items to people in need.

By Juan Romero