New food bank offers cultural appropriate staples in Edmonton

A new food bank is bringing the tastes and comforts of home to the Afro-Caribbean community.

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The Afro-Caribbean Indigenous Food Bank opened on Saturday, offering staple cultural ingredients to anyone in need.

"We had over 100 people outside lining up … even though it was cold," said the food bank's program director Ranti George.

"A lot of people are really, really stunned and they love it," she said.

George said when newcomers or other minority groups access food banks, they don't always know what to do with the foods.

At the new centre, they can find familiar ingredients, something she said can ease culture shock for newcomers.

"Food is comfort, food is culture, food gives you identity," George said. "We want to be able to give them that little comfort."

Diana Mager, a nutrition expert from the University of Alberta, said culturally appropriate food banks can help keep families healthier.

The more people can cook at home, the less they need to rely on processed foods, Mager said, and it makes feeding children easier, as they are more likely to struggle with new foods.

"A food has so many connotations to it in terms of a sense of belonging and family and mental health, so that certainly can make a huge difference," she added.

George said the food bank served around 120 people on Saturday. Dozens more had applied to pick up food on Thursday.

She said the new food bank is open to all people, regardless of their cultural background.

For more information on the food bank or to apply for a hamper, visit the Afro-Caribbean Food Bank website.