Our Food Bank Drive is a yearly tradition for many, and we are happy to bring you Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank.

A new report warns that the cost-of-living crisis needs immediate action to help millions of Canadians struggling from coast to coast to coast. The state of poverty and food insecurity has reached alarming heights, with nearly 2 million food bank visits in one month alone.

Starting December 1, 2023, join us for special broadcasts, events, auctions and donate to the Calgary Food Bank. Or, attend one of our coffee and mug sales to make a donation and receive this year's limited edition mug.

Many of us have been impacted financially by the pandemic and inflation, limiting us in ways we might traditionally contribute. But there are many opportunities to spread generosity and kindness aside from making monetary donations. Put a smile on your own face – and the faces of others – by spreading acts of kindness in your community. For ideas and inspiration for your generous act, click here.

Follow Calgary Food Bank on Facebook and Instagram for the latest news and numbers.

CBC Calgary staff at the Calgary Food Bank in November 2022.

Our Goal $1,000,000 $0

Dec. 1: Kick-off day | Grounds for Giving coffee sale

6 a.m. until sell out

This year's campaign kicks off with the launch of our special roast of Grounds for Giving coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters and our limited edition holiday mug! Join us on Friday, December 1 as we kickoff Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank with 400 bags of coffee and mugs.

Location: Fratello Coffee, 4021 9 St SE

Dec. 1-22: Donation drop-offs

Mondays to Saturdays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Make a donation to Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank with non-perishable food item at Parkdale Community Association with the Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association. Click here for a list of in-demand items the Calgary Food Bank is collecting this year.

Location: Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association (3512 – 5th Ave NW)

Dec. 5: The Homestretch's Jam for The Food Bank

3 to 6 p.m.

Join The Homestretch with Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe live on location at the Ironwood Stage & Grill and enjoy musical performances, play some trivia for a chance to win great prizes including cozy CBC swag, a prize pack from Macleod Optometry worth over $2000 . Entrance to the show can be made either through a monetary or non-perishable food item donation.

Location: Ironwood Stage & Grill, 1229 9 Ave SE

Dec. 7: Grounds for Giving pop-up coffee sale

6:30 a.m. until sell out

Missed the first sale of Grounds for Giving coffee beans and our limited edition holiday mug? Now’s your chance to try again. 200 bags available while supplies last.

Location: Analog Coffee - Greenwich (Farmers' Market West)
55 Greenbriar Dr. NW #130

Dec. 11: Grounds for Giving pop-up coffee sale

6:30 a.m. until sell out

Join us at our second pop-up coffee sale to purchase our special roast of Grounds for Giving coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters and our limited edition holiday mug. 200 bags available while supplies last.

Location: Analog Coffee - Westman Village (102 Mahogany Centre SE)

Dec. 13: Raffle day

On December 13, purchase a raffle ticket (or more!) for your chance to win a prize package of four bags of Grounds for Giving coffee beans along with four limited-edition coffee mugs.

Purchase a Raffle Ticket

Dec. 14: Blitz Day

Join us for a day of special programming, live music and meet and greets with your favourite hosts and columnists. We'll have popcorn, a photo booth and lots of fun!

Come by, make a monetary donation or bring a non-perishable food item, in support of our Calgary Food Bank drive. Be part of the community and help us reach our goal of $1 million! Today is also your last chance to get your hands on our limited edition Grounds for Giving mug and special roast of Fratello coffee beans.

Location: CBC Calgary lobby, 1000 Veterans Place NW

Learn about the Calgary Food Bank and who you’re supporting when you make a donation.

This year's top in-demand items to support the Calgary Food Bank:


• Cereal
• Canned Meat
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Beans
• Baby Formula
• Pasta Sauce

Calgary Food Bank Facts 2022-2023


• Every dollar donated equals $3.50 worth of food distributed.
• 64% of the food bank users are families.
• 34% of food bank users are children.
• A total of 149,909 hampers were distributed through our programs.
• 1,320,635 pounds of food was distributed through Food Link to 56 partner organizations with a value of $4,263,848.
• Volunteers contributed 146,122 hours last year.
• 380,997 hampers were distributed through the Emergency Food Hamper Program.

A big thank you to our community partners, who are working to fill every plate in Calgary this season.

Fratello Coffee Roasters

Fratello Coffee Roasters works directly with farmers around the world to produce coffee that is not only delicious, but also ethically sourced. Fratello has generously donated 1,700 bags of One Gray Knight specially roasted coffee so that all of the money collected can go directly to the Calgary Food Bank.

Learn more

Parkdale Community Association

This year Parkdale Community Association has come on board to help collect non-perishable food donations.

Learn more

Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association

This year the Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association has come on board to help collect non-perishable food donations.

Learn more

The Calgary Food Bank

Established in 1982, the Calgary Food Bank is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to gathering and distributing quality emergency food to those in need. The Calgary Food Bank hands out 262 emergency hampers every day, as well as provides resources to other food banks and agencies in Alberta.

Learn more

Analog Coffee

This year Analog Coffee is hosting one of our pop-up coffee sales.

Learn more

YYC Tech Gives

Since 2010, YYC Tech Gives has donated more than $1.5 million, which translates to over $7.5 million worth of food in the hands of Calgarians in need.

Learn more

Questions you might have about Make the Season Kind: In support of the Calgary Food Bank


How do I donate?

You can make a donation by participating in our events, bidding on an auction item or directly online here.

I can’t donate money this year, but still want to help. What other ways can I support?

Yes! Please visit the Calgary Food Bank website to learn how you can make a difference through volunteering. You can also click here for more ways to spread generosity this season.

Why does the CBC Calgary Food Bank Drive look different this year?

We’re still raising money for the Calgary Food Bank, just under a new name! In order to adhere to COVID-19 protocols, our station remains closed to the public and in-person events have had to be reimagined to either online or via drive-thru. Visit our schedule of events for more information.

Make the Season Kind

A big thank you to our community partners listed below for coming together to help us make these local prize packs!

Share your story with us of how you showed or received an act of kindness this year and be entered to win a local prize pack. Your act of kindness may even be featured on CBC Calgary.


What’s an act of kindness?
Have you picked up groceries for an elderly neighbour? Covered someone's bill? Received a call from a long lost friend that made your day? We want to hear about it! No act of kindness is too big or too small.

Local prize packs include: 

Deadline to enter to win is Thursday, Dec. 14 at noon MT.

Submit your story here

Read previous stories of kindness below: