Preview Card
Opening Paragraph:
When Maria gets her biweekly paycheque from her retail job in Edmonton, she should feel relief. Instead, she feels the familiar weight of impossible choices: rent, utilities, or groceries? Like thousands of working families across our city, Maria has discovered that having a job doesn't guarantee food security: especially when that food needs to reflect her Dominican heritage and provide the cultural nourishment her family craves. This is the hidden reality facing employed families in Edmonton's diverse communities, and it's why the Afro-Caribbean Food Bank (ACFB) sees a growing number of working parents walking through our doors, seeking not just food, but dignity and cultural connection in their time of need.
Main Points This Post Will Cover:
- The Working Poor Reality: How rising living costs in Edmonton are pushing employed families into food insecurity, particularly affecting newcomers and BIPOC communities
- Cultural Food Access Barriers: Why mainstream food banks often fall short for families seeking plantain, yuca, scotch bonnet peppers, and other culturally significant ingredients
- Beyond the Stereotype: Dismantling misconceptions about who needs food support and why employment status doesn't tell the full story
- ACFB's Dignified Approach: How our culturally appropriate food programs serve working families without judgment or shame
- Real Stories, Real Impact: Anonymous accounts from employed families who've found support and community at ACFB
- Systemic Solutions: What Edmonton needs to address food insecurity among working families long-term
- How You Can Help: Practical ways community members can support working families facing food insecurity
This post will explore how ACFB bridges the gap between employment and food security while honoring the cultural identities and dignity of every family we serve.
