Food Supports for Families

The Medicine Hat Catholic Board of Education has been working closely with our local Food Bank to find the best way to support students and families in need during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our school division has donated $75,000 of our Nutrition Program Funding to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank for Medicine Hat Catholic families to directly access during this time of uncertainty.

MHCBE began this partnership with a donation of $50,000 in April and donated an additional $25,000 in June to help cover the cost of food during the summer months. MHCBE families are encouraged to continue (or begin) accessing these funds in July and August. This funding has been donated to serve any of our MHCBE families needing additional support during this time. You are not alone and we are here to support you.

We know that many of you may have never had to access the Food Bank before and it may be an intimidating process. We want to encourage parents and guardians to use this program as MHCBE has donated funds specifically to support our students and their families. At this time we hope that you find comfort in knowing that our community wants to reach out and help you until you can get back on your feet. If you have any further questions or need assistance with this process please don’t hesitate to contact our school board office 403-527-2292.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access local supports for food?

MHCBE has been working directly with our local Food Bank to find the best way to support families in need. Our school division has chosen to donate $75,000 of our Nutrition Program Funding to the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank. The funds donated will be used to directly support Medicine Hat Catholic students and families in need.

Why did you donate this funding to the Food Bank?

The Food Bank has the ability to buy food in bulk from their suppliers. This gives them the ability to get more value from the money given to them in order to better serve more people in our community. The Food Bank is also the central hub for many organizations that donate food products, which increases the variety and availability of certain products for our families. 

How do I access the Medicine Hat and District Food Bank?

Follow these easy steps: 

1. Call 403-528-4313 ext 1 - if no one answers please leave your name and phone number and they will call you back.
2. Give them your name and how many people are in your family, including children, as well as your address (just for tracking purposes).
3. The Food Bank will give you a time to pick up your food hamper the next day- this will be a half-hour window between 12:00pm -3:00pm. 

What will I receive if I reach out to the Food Bank?

You will receive either a single hamper (1-2 people) or a family hamper that will have groceries to supplement what you may already have for 2 weeks. This is called an “emergency kit” and has items such as: flour, sugar, pasta, pasta sauce, soup, bread, fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy, frozen meat, and other items. Some families are eligible to receive multiple food hampers, please inquire with the Food Bank when you call. 

What about Brown Bag Lunches?

Weekly Brown Bag Lunch "Super Packs" will be available to all children over the age of six from all three local school divisions and will include healthy and easy options for your child’s lunches. Each Brown Bag Lunch package will also include printed recipes and a link that will take them to a YouTube video with cooking instructions and ideas for what to do with their lunch package when they receive it.
Learn more: https://www.mhfoodbank.com/brown-bag-lunch