As 2025 comes to a close, one truth has never been clearer — food insecurity in Alberta is a crisis.
Every week, more families face impossible choices between rent, heat, medicine, and groceries. Behind every number is a child growing up in a home where the fridge is often empty, and parents stretch every dollar as far as it will go.
At I Can for Kids (iCAN), we see the growing strain on families and the agencies who serve them. It’s why collaboration has never mattered more. We’re launching a more robust ecosystem of support that ensures more and more food-insecure families can access immediate financial relief in a crisis, regardless of where they live.
Developing new partnerships
This year, our partnerships deepened and expanded across Calgary and Central Alberta, connecting hundreds of families to immediate, dignified support through our grocery gift card program. Together with our community agency partners, we reached more kids than ever before — in cities, small towns, and rural communities where unique barriers create even greater instability for food-insecure families.
“Our partnership with I Can for Kids represents a significant step forward in supporting families facing food insecurity in rural central Alberta. Together, we’re bringing the innovative grocery gift card model to communities where traditional support can often be more difficult. This collaboration strengthens our ability to address the unique challenges of rural life, fostering resilience and a sense of belonging for those we serve.”
Jen S., Senior Practice Specialist, McMan Central
Locally, we welcomed our first collaboration with the public healthcare system. By partnering with Primary Care Alberta, we are strengthening evaluation outcomes, cross-sector knowledge sharing, and our ability to measure health impacts. It also demonstrates the potential of our model as an effective, evidence-based public health intervention, validating how seamlessly it can integrate into existing health infrastructure.
This is also the first time iCAN is specifically targeting new mothers and infants during a critical period of development, expanding the reach of our grocery gift card program to additional at-risk populations. We’re grateful for the opportunity to help babies thrive from conception through the first year and beyond.
In the words of one mother: “Grocery gift cards are a great help to my family during a challenging time. We can buy fresh food and essentials without stretching our budget too thin. It brought a sense of relief and stability, knowing that we always had enough to eat. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of the donors. Your support truly makes a difference in our daily lives.”
Mother of infant, Primary Care Alberta Public Health, Pregnancy and Beyond support group
Making a real and lasting difference
By working side-by-side with our agency partners, we made it possible for families to shop where food is already available — in their own grocery stores — and choose what they need most. That’s the power of collaboration: agencies know their clients and communities best, and our grocery gift cards give them the tools to respond quickly and compassionately.
While the crisis grows, so does the strength of our collective response. Each partnership, each donation, and each shared moment of trust has made a real and lasting difference for families who need it most.
As we head into the holidays, our wish for every child and family is simple: peace, stability, and the comfort of knowing they can put food on the table.
From all of us at I Can for Kids, we wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season filled with warmth, connection, and hope for the year ahead.
Bobbi Turko, Executive Director, I Can for Kids Foundation
