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 says food banks in Canada have seen a major surge in visits throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and the high cost of living and ongoing economic disruption is bound to create countless new clients in the months ahead.
Starting December 2, 2022, 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.
CBC Calgary staff at the Calgary Food Bank in November 2022.
Past events:
Dec. 2: Kick-off day | One Knight Only coffee sale
6 a.m. until sell out
This year's campaign kicks off with the launch of our special roast of One Knight Only coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters and our limited edition holiday mug! Join us on Friday, December 2 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. 6: One Knight Only pop-up coffee sale
7 a.m. until sell out
Missed the first sale of One Knight Only coffee beans and our limited edition holiday mug? Now’s your chance to try again. 200 bags available while supplies last.
Location: The Bro’kin Yolk at Mahogany Plaza SE
Dec. 8: The Homestretch's Jam for The Food Bank
3 to 6 p.m.
We're back! Join The Homestretch with Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe live on location at the Ironwood Stage & Grill and enjoy musical performances from The Hello Darlins, Terez, Zenon, and Kyle McKearney. Play some trivia for a chance to win great prizes including cozy CBC swag, a local prize pack and an outdoor arrangement from Spruce it Up Garden Centre. 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.10: Cookie party with Julie Van Rosendaal
Virtual
Join Julie Van Rosendaal for some virtual holiday baking from the comfort of your kitchen. 500 tickets available today for $20.
Dec. 12: Raffle day
On December 12, purchase a raffle ticket (or more!) for your chance to win a prize package of four bags of One Knight Only coffee beans along with four limited-edition One Knight Only coffee mugs.
Dec. 14: One Knight Only pop-up coffee sale
7 a.m. until sell out
Join us at our second pop-up coffee sale to purchase our special roast of One Knight Only coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters and our limited edition holiday mug. 200 bags available while supplies last.
Location: Analog Coffee Farmer's Market West at #130 55 Greenbriar Drive NW
Dec. 15: 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 One Knight Only mug and special roast of Fratello coffee beans.
Click here for a full schedule of events.
Location: CBC Calgary lobby, 1000 Veterans Place NW
Dec. 18: Weekend Water Cooler chat with Daybreak Alberta
8:30 a.m.
Join host Paul Karchut from Daybreak Alberta and the show's weekly Weekend Water Cooler panel. Be part of the virtual call, watch the panel go to air and maybe even chime in with your own take! The topic that day will be holiday traditions - things you MUST DO every year.
To take part, either share your stories of kindness or make a donation to the food bank at cbc.ca/bekindyeg in Edmonton, or cbc.ca/feedyyc in Calgary. Once you've done that, email daybreak@cbc.ca to say you'd like to take part and we'll send you a link to join the virtual meet up on the 18th.
Dec. 2-16: Online auctions
Many local Calgary and area businesses have joined forces to donate some amazing items to our online auction.
Dec. 2-22: Donation drop-offs
Mondays to Fridays: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Saturdays & Sundays: 12 to 2 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)
Jan.4: Final Announcement
Join Angela Knight on CBC Radio One's the Calgary Eyeopener, for the announcement of the final total.
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
• Pasta
• Peanut butter
• Canned vegetables
• Canned chicken or turkey
• Nut-free granola bars
• Baby food pouches
Calgary Food Bank Facts 2021-2022
• Every dollar donated equals $5 worth of food distributed.
• 60% of the food bank users are families.
• 36% of food bank users are children.
• A total of 141,206 hampers were distributed through our programs.
• 672,201 pounds of food was distributed through Food Link to 72 programs.
• Volunteers contributed 104,343 hours last year.
• 112,294 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.
Parkdale Community Association
This year Parkdale Community Association has come on board to help collect non-perishable food donations.
Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association
This year the Parkdale Nifty Fifties Seniors Association has come on board to help collect non-perishable food donations.
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.
The Bro'Kin Yolk
This year The Bro'Kin Yolk is hosting one of our pop-up coffee sales.
Analog Coffee
This year Analog Coffee is hosting one of our pop-up coffee sales.
Mirage Photo Booth
Thank you to Mirage Photo Booth for capturing memories on Blitz Day.
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.
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!
Please note this contest is now closed. Thanks for entering!
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:
• Julie Van Rosendaal’s You Are Human and You Need Cake cookbook
• A Sunnyside Milk Jar candle
• A $50 gift card to Bowtie Pizza
• Custom cookies from Cookie Momster YYC
• Chocolate gingerbread people from cōchu Chocolatier
• A custom CBC stocking from One Apparel
• A wooden CBC-engraved tree ornament
• A 12oz bag of One Knight Only coffee beans from Fratello Coffee Roasters
• A limited-edition One Knight Only coffee mug
• CBC Calgary winter swag (socks, toque, scarf)
Deadline to enter to win is Thursday, December 15 at noon MT.
Read stories of kindness below:
- • People sharing goodwill with strangers and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
- • Neighbours helping neighbours and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
- • Strangers paying for groceries and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
- • Handing out care packages to the homeless and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
- • Finding homes for pets and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
- • Caring for the homeless and other acts of kindness by Calgarians
Join us on Dec.15 for a day of special programming, live music and meet and greets with our hosts.
CBC lobby | 1000 Veterans Place N.W.
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!
* Photo booth from 8 a.m. to noon
* Please note parking will be free at the west surface parking lot on Blitz Day
The Calgary Eyeopener with Loren McGinnis and Angela Knight
6:00 - 8:30 a.m.
Kick off Blitz Day with Calgary Eyeopener’s new host, Loren McGinnis and Angela Knight. Enjoy music from Kate Stevens, chat with our food columnist Julie Van Rosendaal and do some star gazing with our star man Don Hladiuk. This will also be your last chance to get your hands on our One Knight Only mug and special roast of Fratello coffee beans.
Meet and Greet: Loren McGinnis and Angela Knight
8:30 - 9:30 a.m.
Let’s give a warm welcome to our Calgary Eyeopener new host, Loren McGinnis! Give Loren some tips on things to do in Calgary and enjoy a cup of coffee with Angela Knight.
Meet and Greet: Paul Haavardsrud and Paul Karchut
11 a.m. - noon
Meet the Pauls! Our Cost of Living host Paul Haavardsrud and Daybreak Alberta host Paul Karchut will be hanging out and ready to talk about anything from money to music to news.
Alberta at Noon with Judy Aldous
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
The show will be broadcasting live in the lobby with Charms who will be playing a holiday song for a story!
Meet and Greet: Judy Aldous, Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe
1 - 2 p.m.
Our CBC afternoon shows’ hosts - Judy Aldous from Alberta at Noon, Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe from The Homestretch - will be spreading some holiday cheer in the lobby! We hear Jenny may be sporting some sparkly pants.
Meet and Greet: Rob Brown and Kathleen Petty
2 - 3 p.m.
Love news and politics? Then meet our CBC Calgary News’ host Rob Brown and West of Centre host Kathleen Petty. They’ll give you the lowdown on current events and political news.
The Homestretch with Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe
3:00 - 6:00 p.m.
Wind down with Chris dela Torre and Jenny Howe. Listen to live music from The Royal Foundry and meet some of the special guests and columnists, including:
• Harnarayan Singh, the Punjabi-language announcer of Hockey Night in Canada
• Cavalry FC players
• Brian Keating, our Homestretch naturalist
• Anne Logan, our Homestretch book columnist