Renovations improve service at Taber Food Bank

Times Photo by Jared Vas. RENOVATION: Mary Van Geest, assistant manager of the Taber Food Bank, stands at the newly renovated front counter.

• Stuff A Bus campaign returns June 3

By Jared Vas
Taber Times

Volunteer hours and generous donations have enabled the Taber Food Bank to improve its operations and expand its reach in the community—and beyond.

With renovations completed in early May, the food bank has enhanced its distribution strategy by restructuring the front counter. The new setup features a larger countertop, and coolers have been relocated behind the desk. Previously, coolers were part of the self-serve section; now, food bank staff distribute these items directly.

Cooler items are now more organized and spaced out, particularly as the food bank has seen an increase in donations, thanks in part to recent economic growth in the region.

Another major upgrade involves the office space. A private area for new client intake has been added, allowing for confidential application meetings. Previously, applicants were required to sit in the main office, where other staff and volunteers were working. The new setup offers more discretion, helping clients feel supported with dignity and confidentiality.

With the application desk moved, the main office now has more room. Each employee has their own workstation, improving both comfort and efficiency.

The renovations were made possible through generous corporate support:

• Ducharme Logistics donated paint and other supplies

• Taber Floor Coverings provided the new flooring

• Stone Age Granite donated the countertop

• Assured Storage and Property supplied materials for cabinets, shelving, and other storage needs

Improved distribution comes at a critical time, as the food bank continues to receive growing support. Economic development—particularly the opening of Tony and Sam’s No Frills—has driven a notable increase in donations. With the addition of No Frills, the food bank now counts three grocery partners: Co-op, IGA and No Frills, all supporting efforts to combat food insecurity.

Starbucks is also contributing, with the food bank now able to access pastries through a third-party food waste reduction program. A&W has begun donating frozen beef patties, expanding the variety of available food items.

Thanks to increased donations, the food bank now sends food to Lethbridge once a week, broadening its impact while continuing to serve growing demand locally.

Mary Van Geest, assistant manager at the Taber Food Bank, said Tony and Sam’s No Frills became a partner even before opening its doors.

“He contacted us before they opened to the public and said, ‘Hey, we’re coming in. We’d like to work with you,’” she said. “It was probably two weeks after they opened, and we had a schedule with them. So we pick up Monday, Wednesday and Friday.”

Support from No Frills often goes beyond those three days.

“We went today to pick up, and he already asked, ‘Can you come tomorrow?’ Some weeks it’s like we’re going every day. Yeah… It’s awesome,” Van Geest said.

The Taber Food Bank’s Stuff a Bus campaign returns Tuesday, June 3, running from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. This year, donations will be accepted at three locations: IGA, Co-op, and, for the first time, Tony and Sam’s No Frills.