Overview
- Food Banks Alberta told reporters on Monday that its provincial warehouse has already distributed more than two million pounds of food in 2026, roughly 60 percent of the 3.36 million pounds it sent out in all of 2025.
- The group says donations and cash have not kept pace with rising need, so member food banks are cutting client allocations and some families that once received seven days of food may now get only five days.
- Food Banks Alberta is urgently appealing to manufacturers, processors and distributors for bulk donations to fill about 350 empty pallet spaces and will accept excess or short‑dated inventory to restock shelves.
- The shortages are driven by a year‑over‑year surge in visits — Alberta averaged 210,541 monthly food‑bank visits in 2025, a 21.8 percent jump — and officials expect the upcoming 2026 Hunger Count to show further increases.
- Separately, Edmonton coverage highlights Josh Samanski’s rise from undrafted junior player to a near‑NHL option for the Oilers after strong play in Germany and the AHL, and a Calgary letter recounts a transit officer returning a lost phone as an example of local kindness.