How It Works
A Community Of Support
We are Families, Volunteers, and Donors.
- Our Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (BB4CK) community includes dedicated parents, volunteers, school staff, donors and the BB4CK’s staff, who take meaningful action to care for kids.
- With 21 percent of Calgarians reporting they struggle to buy groceries, and food prices continuing to rise, the BB4CK community is determined to provide food security to kids and their families.
- It costs $4 to produce and deliver one lunch to one kid.
- We make food accessible to kids who need it, when they need it, and provide thousands of school lunches to Calgary’s kids every school day.
Years of Providing Lunches
Our Services
We connect kids to food with the support of dedicated volunteers and impactful donations.
Food is LOVE, Food is CONNECTION, Food is COMMUNITY
How We Make A Difference
We Directly Impact Our Community
By Offering Consistent and Reliable Support.
- Over 7,800 kids receive a lunch every school day.
- Over 650 volunteers across BB4CK’s Central and satellite kitchens in every quadrant of the city make sandwiches, pack fruits and veggies, and bake goodies to care for kids in their communities.
- We also work with families experiencing food insecurity, gathering feedback to design programming that address food insecurity in our city.
Our Resources
For Families, Schools, Donors and Volunteers.
For Schools
Get Connected To Lunches
With 21 percent of Calgarians reporting they struggle to buy groceries and food prices continuing to rise, the BB4CK community is determined to provide food security to kids and their families.
For Families
Get Connected To Food Resources
Volunteers
Get Involved Today
Join our amazing volunteer team to make a difference in children’s lives today. We have many volunteer roles for you to fill and you don’t have to choose just one!
Corporate
Volunteers
Get Your Team Involved
Community Volunteers
Start a BB4CK Satellite Kitchen
Join a Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids volunteer community group and play a vital role in ensuring children have access to nutritious meals and snacks.
For Community Groups
Community Group Sign-In
Access daily production numbers and keep your lunch preparations running smoothly.
Donors
Give Today, Impact a Kid’s Life
Make an Impact on Calgary’s Kids Today
Nearly 1 in 3 children in Alberta live in a household experiencing food insecurity. Join us in making sure every kid receives the food they need to play, learn, and grow.
Monthly Donors
Become a Hunger Hero, and Give Monthly
Looking for a Heartfelt, Consistent Way to Give? Become a Hunger Hero and generate reliable food support for children.
Fundraise
Start a Fundraiser to Care for Kids
Stay in the Loop!
Receive inspiring stories, the latest news, and exciting ways to support kids — all sent directly to your inbox.
The BB4CK Community Connects Kids to the Food They Need to Reach Their Full Potential
Our Community Of Supporters
We could not impact the kids of thousands of kids in Calgary if it wasn’t for the generosity of our community.
How can we help?
Frequently asked questions
Q: Where are the Community Group Kitchens located? When do they operate, and what do they do?
A: They are in churches, community centers, and some grocery stores in all quadrants across Calgary. Typically, they operate on Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00 am to 10:30 am. Each group prepares lunches, packs them, and delivers them to the schools in their community.
Q: Can youth volunteer?
Yes! We have a 12-year-old or older volunteer policy in effect in the BB4CK downtown kitchen.
Q: Do you accept donations of food or other items?
We do accept certain snacks that we are allowed to send to schools. Click here (link to snack drive page) for more information. For other gift inquiries, please email us at donate@bb4ck.org.
Q: Is there a limit to how many times my family can access BB4CK support?
No, there is no limit to how many days or times your family can access lunches in schools and grocery gift cards. These supports are available as many times as you need them, within the eligibility criteria of each program.
You only need to complete the Family Supports Form once.
Q: My child is homeschooled can I get lunches?
We currently do not offer programming directly for homeschooled children, but if you email our hello@bb4ck.org account we will try our best to see what food supports we can connect you to.
Q: How can I get lunches for my kids/students at school?
A: If you are looking for in-school lunch support, please reach out to lunches@bb4ck.org
Q: How do I donate?
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There are many ways to donate. If you would like to discuss your options with a team member first, please email donate@bb4ck.org or call (403) 264-7979. You can donate online by clicking the “Give” button at the top or you can call us at the number above and we can take your credit card details over the phone.
- You can send a cheque in the mail. Please make cheques payable to “Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids”
#110, 909 11 Ave SW
Calgary, AB
T2R 1L7 - You can make a gift of securities here:
Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids | Charity Profile | Donate Online | Canadahelps
Q: Can I get a tax receipt for my donation?
Q: Who qualifies for BB4CK School lunch program?
If your child is a student in K-12 at a Calgary area school and in need of lunch at school, we’d be happy to plan with you. We are currently providing lunches through over 230 Calgary schools. If your child’s school doesn’t currently have BB4CK lunches available, we’ll work with the school to have lunch available.
Q: Where does all this food and money come from?
BB4CK is a community-funded charity. That means that all the money we spend comes from people and companies in our city.
Q: I live outside of Calgary can I get my child signed up for lunches?
We currently offer supports in over 230 Calgary schools, but unfortunately our supports are limited to Calgary schools. Reach out to your local school to see if there is similar support offered by another organization in your local city.
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