One Edmonton business actually wishes they would go out of business — but new stats say they are needed more than ever before.
“We are one of those strange businesses where we don’t want to be busy,” said Richard LeSueur, resource development co-ordinator with Alberta Food Banks.
But results of the HungerCount 2010, released yesterday, say demands on food banks have increased nationwide.
Although the number of homeless people in Edmonton has decreased by 21 per cent in the last two years, LeSueur says people may be choosing shelter over food.
“Those types of decisions have to be made,” said LeSueur. “Food will almost become an option.”
LeSueur said the number of food bank users is directly related to the state of the economy.
Indeed, the survey states Canada is at the highest level of food bank use on record.
One large donation campaign will roll through town in December, hoping to bring some relief to the Edmonton Food Bank.
The Canadian Pacific Holiday Train is a national campaign that has raised more than $4.8 million in cash and 2.3 million pounds of food in Canada and the U.S. since 1999.
“Year after year, there is still a need,” said Breanne Feigel, a CP spokesperson.
The brightly decorated train will roll into Edmonton Dec. 10 for a holiday celebration and food drive.
