About Brown Bagging for Calgary's Kids
Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids (BB4CK) is a community-funded, non-profit organization that has been working for 35 years to make sure kids across Calgary have access to the food they need. Our work is powered by the generosity and care of individuals, foundations and organizations that believe every child deserves access to nutritious food.
Together, with the BB4CK community — donors, volunteers, kids & families, school staff, board members, and partners — we work across the food insecurity spectrum year-round by preparing and delivering lunches to children in schools and summer camps, and offering families a dignified choice through grocery cards.
Our vision & mission
Our vision
A future where all school-aged kids in Calgary have the food they need to thrive.
Our mission
To provide dignified access to food, foster social connection, and inspire action by raising awareness of food insecurity in Calgary.
Our values
Our values guide how we show up for kids, families and everyone in the BB4CK community.
- Lead with Dignity and Respect
- Driven by Learning
- Based on Trust and Transparency
What we do
We work alongside kids, families, schools, volunteers, donors and community partners to increase access to food, build connections, and inspire action on food insecurity in Calgary.
Dignified food access
We support kids and families across the food insecurity spectrum, providing school lunches as immediate support and grocery cards that give families choice in accessing the food that works for them.
Social connection
Food brings people together.
We create opportunities for kids, families, volunteers, schools, donors and partners to connect, contribute and care for their community.
Awareness & action
We help build greater understanding of food insecurity in Calgary and inspire our community to learn, participate and take action.
Our impact at a glance
- 🍎 Close to 8,000 kids in Kindergarten through Grade 12 served every school day
- 🏫 290+ Calgary schools supported
- 🙋 600+ volunteers help prepare and deliver lunches
- ✅ No waitlist for kids
It takes a community
Kids and families, volunteers, donors, staff, schools and partners all play a part in the BB4CK community. Together, we create connection, increase access to food and care for Calgary’s kids.
35 years caring for kids
What began with a small group making sandwiches has grown into a citywide community that connects thousands of kids and families to food. Explore some of the moments that have shaped BB4CK and see where we’re going next.
Where our story began
Our story began when a small group of volunteers saw that children experiencing homelessness in Calgary needed access to food and decided to act. Using donated ingredients, they made sandwiches in a downtown kitchen for local outreach organizations to share with children in the community.
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Growing into Calgary’s schools As the need grew, so did the community response. We became a registered charity in 2002 and began working with schools. In 2006, we became Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids and introduced more lunch choices, better-quality ingredients and discreet packaging. |
Volunteers preparing sandwiches in one of our early kitchens. |
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Growing and adapting together By 2012, the community was helping provide lunches for over 2,000 kids each day in 100 schools. We responded during the 2013 flood and adapted again when COVID-19 closed schools, providing grocery cards so families could choose the food that worked best for them. |
Volunteers preparing lunches in BB4CK’s kitchen, 2013. |
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Listening and Responding We continued to find new ways to listen to and respond to kids and families. Their voices and lived experiences helped shape lunch options and new programs. When schools closed during the 2025 teachers’ strike, we partnered with community organizations to create neighbourhood lunch pick-up locations so kids could continue accessing food. |
A message of thanks from Calgary teachers, 2025. |
A city-wide community caring for kids
Today, we work year-round to connect kids and families to food. We provide lunches for nearly 8,000 kids every school day in more than 290 schools, support children through summer programs, and offer families a dignified choice through grocery cards. This work continues to be shaped and powered by people across Calgary.
Volunteers preparing lunches for kids across Calgary.
Growing Together for Calgary’s Kids
Now, our story is entering a new chapter. Our new kitchen will have nearly three times the capacity of our current space, strengthening our ability to prepare nutritious lunches and connect more kids and families to food.
Our new kitchen location.
Where our story began
Our story began when a small group of volunteers saw that children experiencing homelessness in Calgary needed access to food and decided to act. Using donated ingredients, they made sandwiches in a downtown kitchen for local outreach organizations to share with children in the community.
Growing into Calgary’s schools
As the need grew, so did the community response. We became a registered charity in 2002 and began working with schools. In 2006, we became Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids and introduced more lunch choices, better-quality ingredients and discreet packaging.
Volunteers preparing sandwiches in one of our early kitchens.
Growing and adapting together
By 2012, the community was helping provide lunches for over 2,000 kids each day in 100 schools. We responded during the 2013 flood and adapted again when COVID-19 closed schools, providing grocery cards so families could choose the food that worked best for them.
Volunteers preparing lunches in BB4CK’s kitchen, 2013.
Listening and Responding
We continued to find new ways to listen to and respond to kids and families. Their voices and lived experiences helped shape lunch options and new programs. When schools closed during the 2025 teachers’ strike, we partnered with community organizations to create neighbourhood lunch pick-up locations so kids could continue accessing food.
A message of thanks from Calgary teachers, 2025.
A city-wide community caring for kids
Today, we work year-round to connect kids and families to food. We provide lunches for nearly 8,000 kids every school day in more than 290 schools, support children through summer programs, and offer families a dignified choice through grocery cards. This work continues to be shaped and powered by people across Calgary.
Volunteers preparing lunches for kids across Calgary.
Growing Together for Calgary’s Kids
Now, our story is entering a new chapter. Our new kitchen will have nearly three times the capacity of our current space, strengthening our ability to prepare nutritious lunches and connect more kids and families to food.
Our new kitchen location.
Looking ahead
For more than 35 years, BB4CK has grown alongside Calgary, always listening and responding to what kids and families need. As we step into our next chapter, we’ll continue working together to increase access to food, strengthen connections, and inspire action on food insecurity.