A Lethbridge food bank wants to work with local beef producers to deliver more meat to families.
The Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge is applying for a grant to fund a pilot project in which healthy cull animals are donated and processed. The meat would be ground and added to hampers that are received by 700 households per month.
“We are hoping it is a way to use the waste animals,” said Danielle McIntyre, head of the food bank.
It will know by September if it has received the money.
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Donated animals have to be healthy and pass inspection because all hampers must meet the same standards as food sold at grocery stores.
Producers would receive a tax receipt for the value of the meat received by the food bank. The processor would bill the food bank at a pre-determined rate.
The food bank usually includes two pounds of meat in its hampers in an attempt to follow Canada’s food guide, but it now buys most of its meat. “It is not something people normally donate to us,” she said. “If we have more, we can give more.”
For further information, contact Danielle McIntyre at 403-320-8779.
