Little pantry, big impact

It’s something you wouldn’t expect to stumble across in the heart of downtown Calgary.

What appears to be a beautifully painted shed along 221 12th Ave. S.W. actually plays an important role for those facing food insecurity.

Beyond a set of flowered turquoise doors, you’ll find a fully functional fridge nestled next to a pantry where donated food is available for anyone – 24/7 with no questions asked.

The Beltline Fridge and Pantry is a labour of love running on generous donations and the hard work of volunteers. The idea was sparked by community members who recognized a growing need for more food resources in the area. With no monitoring or registration, people are welcome to come by at any time to take what they need, no matter their situation.

“They come from all walks of life. We see a lot of elderly people come in, which is a lot of people in the community. We see people who are unhoused, but we also see your everyday people,” says Jessica Watson, planning committee member for the project.

“I’d say overall the impact has been pretty amazing. We strive to have food security available for anyone who needs it, but we’re also trying to reduce food waste and build the sense of solidarity and community,” she adds.

The pantry didn’t simply pop up overnight. In fact, it took over a year of planning and collaboration before it was able to officially launch in Oct. 2023.

“A lot of that time was getting the committee together – planning how we wanted to build the structure, working with different community associations on the location and with The City of Calgary to actually get the space available for us,” explains Watson. “We also worked with other groups to make sure we had something that was going to stay in place, stay strong and have a good user and volunteer base.”

Collaboration was key when bringing this project to life. Several members of The City and community worked together to secure the permits and funding to make it happen.

“This was really the optimal location for the group to locate the fridge, central to the community of Beltline, and it happens to be City property. I helped to navigate all those internal processes to be able to get the approvals,” says Sarah Papineau, neighbourhood partnership coordinator.

“To hear some of the stories of the impact it’s made on people having a meal – just the simple thing of having a meal – the rewards are well worth the investment on this project.” 

Community Social Worker, Silvia Ross, worked with residents and partners in the Beltline to address needs in the area, and creating a pantry was a clear way to support those in need of food.

“What this project has revealed is that there is food insecurity in our neighbourhood. It’s not just food insecurity alone, like the lack of food, it’s a bigger issue,” explains Ross. “However, this project, what it comes down to is the power of community. It’s about how we’ve come together to address some of the immediate needs and mobilizing to get neighbours to help neighbours.”

The pantry would not be possible without the help of volunteers like Harp Kaddoura, who is proud to play a role in keeping the area clean. He comes by every week to ensure the area is free of garbage and spills so visitors can have a positive experience.

The group is now asking for the support of Calgarians and local businesses to keep the shelves stocked. You can drop off items including fresh food, canned and dry goods, bread, toiletries and pet food. For health and safety reasons, they can’t accept raw meat or seafood, home-cooked meals, open or expired items, alcohol or food without labels.

Jessica Watson says making someone’s day can be as simple as grabbing a few extra items while you’re at the grocery store.

“One of the fun stories I had recently is I had gone and done some shopping for the fridge, and I just happened to pick up plain yogurt, cucumbers and some lemons. I came down and there was a lady here who was like, ‘I just really want to make tzatziki, that’s really what I’m hoping to make.’ And I was like, I have everything you need. I’ve never seen a bigger smile than I saw that day.”