Off-duty Cochrane firefighters are looking to the generosity of the community to remember and feed those less fortunate in between holiday seasons. Tomorrow marks the firefighters’ final push for donations for the Veterans Food Bank – a Calgary-based organization that helps veterans make ends meet – and local firefighters are encouraging people with an extra few cans, tins or gift cards to drop them off at the Protective Services Centre at 20 Grande Blvd. “They need the help and a lot of the time they’re too proud to ask for it,” said firefighter Alex Vague. While new to the detachment, the New Zealander spent nearly seven years in the military – between the New Zealand Army and the British Royal Marines – and is well aware of the pride that can prevent ensuring basic needs are met, especially among elderly veterans. “This time of year the stocks can sometimes run a little low of necessities as it’s just before the traditionally busy donation period around Remembrance Day,” said Vague, adding that the timing also coincides with the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Passchendaele on July 31 where 4,000 Canadians were killed and some 12,000 were injured. “There are a number of veterans who struggle with transitioning from military life into civilian life,” said Melanie Mitra - the CEO of the Canadian Legacy Project (CLP). The CLP is an 11-year-long volunteer-directed and managed registered charity that supports a broad spectrum of support for veterans, from housing to health and wellness to food and more. The firefighters’ initiative, which is separate from the November push they will embark upon to ensure bare shelves brim with food, hits close to home for the first responder community this year with talks of shuttering the doors of the Veterans Food Bank, which is run by the Calgary Poppy Fund, by Jan. 31, 2019. The Calgary Poppy Fund made headlines earlier this year, with accusations that the charity had misused funds, improperly issued tax receipts and failed to properly account for employee expenses. Mitra said the CLP had officially approached the Calgary Poppy Fund to take over the food bank earlier this year, which was met favourably at the local level but rejected by the Royal Canadian Legion Alberta N.W.T. Command – who the poppy fund answers to. “There are lots of questions around what’s going on here ... I think the public has the right to ask questions and to know. There are questions around transparency ...” said Mitra, with respect to the reasoning provided – that it would be more efficient to redistribute resources through other means than to continue with the food bank. Mitra said the CLP has committed to meeting with veterans and other organizations to see if a solution can be achieved. Should this be the outcome, the CLP could provide support at that time. “The Legion has made their decision ... at this point, we’re moving on and we’re now concerned that a good solution is put in place,” she said, adding that one positive about the conversation is putting food security for veterans in the spotlight. Cochrane firefighter Dave Levisky has been supporting the Veterans Food Bank for several years and is hopeful a solution will soon be achieved to ensure those veterans reliant on the resources provided by the food bank will not be overlooked. “We have reached out to several local veterans organizations to see if we can assist in any way to support their efforts in continuing the Veterans Food Bank. With several veterans in the Fire Service, it hits close to home and it is our hope the Veterans Food Bank continues in some format and that our community and surrounding communities of Calgary can support this worthy cause,” said Levisky. “I wish the need for a Veterans Food Bank was not a necessity, but in today’s reality, it’s important that this safety net is available to any veteran in need.”
