This May, let’s Brown Bag It together and help ensure kids have the food they need to learn, play, and grow.
This May, let’s Brown Bag It together and help ensure kids have the food they need to learn, play, and grow.
Let’s Brown Bag It for Calgary’s Kids!
It takes a Community in Action. It takes YOU.
Over 7,800 kids in Calgary receive a nutritious lunch every school day — and it’s possible because of people like YOU.
This May, your donation can make twice the impact! Thanks to our incredible friends at ARC Resources, who are matching the first $50,000 in donations to help feed more kids, every school day.
Don’t miss out on the chance to double your impact!
Learn the Facts
Flip through to learn what food insecurity really means, how big the problem is, and some common myths—and discover the truth behind them.
What is Food insecurity?
Food Insecurity is the experience of struggling to afford food.
It can look like stressing about food, compromising on quality and quantity or skipping meals altogether.
People who experience food insecurity just need better budgeting and food skills.
Food insecurity isn’t about poor choices—it’s about low wages, high housing costs, and expensive childcare. Many families work hard and still can’t afford enough food.
As one parent shared: “We get very basic stuff, like pasta or rice, and search for the cheapest vegetables or protein. It hurts my feelings when my kids ask for something simple and I can’t always give it to them.”
How big is the problem in Alberta?
In 2023, nearly 1 in 3 kids in Alberta lived in households experiencing food insecurity.
That’s over 300,000 children—right here in our province. This isn’t a distant problem. It could be affecting someone right next door, at your workplace, or in your child’s classroom.
People just need to work harder
Although households on social assistance face higher risks, most food-insecure households in Alberta—over 68%—rely mainly on wages or salaries.
Many work multiple jobs, have unstable or low-paying employment, and still struggle to afford basic needs. As the cost of essentials rises faster than wages, more families are being pushed into food insecurity—despite working hard every day.
Food insecurity isn't a problem here
Food insecurity affects families and kids across our city.
And we know that hungry kids have a harder time focusing, learning, playing, and growing. In an average K–3 classroom of 22 students in Calgary, about 7 may not have enough food so they can thrive.
The answer to food insecurity is simply more food
While barrier-free access to food matters, dignity, choice, and belonging are just as important.
Food insecurity isn’t only about having enough—it’s about being able to access food that’s culturally and personally appropriate. As one parent shared: “Now that he can choose what he likes to eat, he has more confidence sitting with others at school. He doesn't feel bad about himself anymore.”
It takes a Community in Action. It takes YOU.
Over 7,800 kids in Calgary receive a nutritious lunch every school day — and it’s possible because of people like YOU.
This May, your donation can make twice the impact! Thanks to our incredible friends at ARC Resources, who are matching the first $50,000 in donations to help feed more kids, every school day.
Don’t miss out on the chance to double your impact!
Learn the Facts
Flip through to learn what food insecurity really means, how big the problem is, and some common myths—and discover the truth behind them.
What is Food insecurity?
Food Insecurity is the experience of struggling to afford food.
It can look like stressing about food, compromising on quality and quantity or skipping meals altogether.
People who experience food insecurity just need better budgeting and food skills.
Food insecurity isn’t about poor choices—it’s about low wages, high housing costs, and expensive childcare. Many families work hard and still can’t afford enough food.
As one parent shared: “We get very basic stuff, like pasta or rice, and search for the cheapest vegetables or protein. It hurts my feelings when my kids ask for something simple and I can’t always give it to them.”
How big is the problem in Alberta?
In 2023, nearly 1 in 3 kids in Alberta lived in households experiencing food insecurity.
That’s over 300,000 children—right here in our province. This isn’t a distant problem. It could be affecting someone right next door, at your workplace, or in your child’s classroom.
People just need to work harder
Although households on social assistance face higher risks, most food-insecure households in Alberta—over 68%—rely mainly on wages or salaries.
Many work multiple jobs, have unstable or low-paying employment, and still struggle to afford basic needs. As the cost of essentials rises faster than wages, more families are being pushed into food insecurity—despite working hard every day.
Food insecurity isn't a problem here
Food insecurity affects families and kids across our city.
And we know that hungry kids have a harder time focusing, learning, playing, and growing. In an average K–3 classroom of 22 students in Calgary, about 7 may not have enough food so they can thrive.
The answer to food insecurity is simply more food
While barrier-free access to food matters, dignity, choice, and belonging are just as important.
Food insecurity isn’t only about having enough—it’s about being able to access food that’s culturally and personally appropriate. As one parent shared: “Now that he can choose what he likes to eat, he has more confidence sitting with others at school. He doesn't feel bad about himself anymore.”
Moving Forward Together
Moving Forward Together is a visual journey that captures everyday moments from families in BB4CK’s grocery card program. It is woven together with the powerful stories of two mothers. Their voices remind us of the strength, resilience, and humanity behind every experience with food insecurity and the importance of building a caring community in action.
Your Gift.
Twice the Impact.
Exciting news! ARC Resources is generously matching every donation made in May, up to $50,000! That means every dollar you give this month will have twice the impact!
Join others across our community who are stepping up to support kids.
Your donation today helps provide the food kids need to learn, play, and grow.
What’s Happening
This May?
May 6 – Moving Forward Together: Photo & Video Exhibition
Free admission
May 12 - 31 – Interactive Display at The CORE
May 24 &25 - BB4CK at the Calgary Servus Marathon – Kid’s Race
We’re excited to cheer on the youngest runners by providing a delicious energy ball to each of the 750 Kid’s Race participants this Saturday and Sunday!
May 25 – Calgary Tower lights up in BB4CK’s colours
Snap a photo or a selfie, share it on social media, and tag us — we’d love to see it!
May 26 - 31 – Photo Exhibition at City Hall
Learn the facts.
Take action.
Brown bag it with us this May!
What’s Happening This May?
May 6 – Moving Forward Together: Photo & Video Exhibition
Join us for an evening of photography and storytelling at the Calgary Central Library through the voices of families.
Save your spot!
Free admission ✅
We’ve partnered again with The CORE to bring an interactive display to Level 2 of the mall. Stop by if you’re nearby swing by and explore!
May 24 & 25 – BB4CK at the Calgary Servus Marathon – Kid’s Race
We’re excited to cheer on the youngest runners by providing a delicious energy ball to each of the 750 Kid’s Race participants this Saturday and Sunday!
If you see the Tower lit up in BB4CK colours, that’s us! The Tower will shine in blue, red and green to spark curiosity and open up conversations about food insecurity.
Snap a photo or a selfie, share it on social media, and tag us — we’d love to see it!
Our photo exhibition moves to City Hall for its final week. It’s free and open to everyone.
Brown Bag It with us this May!
A big thank you to our amazing sponsors:
A big thank you to our amazing sponsors: