Thread by @HarvestHillsYYC

This morning we saw something we will NEVER forget.

We were at the #Walmart in Southeast #Calgary. We were shopping for some groceries when my stepson saw someone take a package of meat and put it under their shirt and then slowly walk over to their cart. #Food #Hungry #Alberta

This person had very few things in their cart. My stepson knows what I do here at @HarvestHillsYYC & he asked if we could help them.

I said yes we could but that this person would feel ganged up on if we all walked over to them, so I told him to stay here and that I’d walk over.

I walked over to where they had their cart and said “I know what it is like to struggle. I would love it if you’d let me help you and I’d like to pay for your groceries.”

This person looked up at me and said “did you see me take the meat?” I said “yes I did. I’d like to help”.

They took the package of meat out from under their shirt and also took a few other items out of their pockets once they realized I wasn’t lying and said I would pay for their groceries and anything they needed.

#yyc #Calgary #Alberta #Canada #Hungry #FeedTheHungry #YYCcc #YEG

My stepson and daughter then came over with our cart and my daughter asked if she could push their cart while they put what they needed into it.

So we walked around the entire store and filled their cart full of items they needed. *including some special yummy goodies too!* #yyc

We got to the till, paid & gave them some reusable grocery bags to use from @ufcw401.

We asked them if they lived far away, they said yes but they could easily push the cart home.

We wouldn’t accept that so we called a cab.

#FoodBank #FoodInsecurity #Crisis #Theft #Stealing

While we were waiting for the can you arrive we sat down with them in the shade under a tree and talked. They asked us about what HHCC was about and we asked them a few things as well.

They shared with us that they lived alone and that their family had all moved away from #Yyc

They said that they lived a pretty lonely & isolated life. But given the past few years of this whole covid thing it was probably for the best.

They said that they had problems being able to afford food & medication let alone any luxury items (they referred to meat as a luxury)

The cab arrived & We gave them our information & card & told them that if they needed anything or it got to the point of today…to contact us & we would #help.

They left knowing they had enough groceries to last a really long time!

#Shopping #Groceries #activism #BeKind #Hope

We headed back inside to finish our grocery shopping. After we went thru the till & paid for our groceries, we got stopped by a security person.

They said they had been following that person & they were going to step in but we saved them from being arrested. #Help #Hope #YYC

They said thank you because they really did not want to have to arrest an elderly person for stealing food to eat.

They also said it must be so hard for people to be this desperate. To struggle this hard. To get to the point where they feel like they have to steal food to eat.

The reason we didn’t mention above that this individual was a senior right away was because this could be any one of us.

Given today’s economic turmoil and the many struggles that everyone is going through…we try to help as many as we can but we are a very small organization.

Right now we have four seniors, two families and one single gentleman that are needing food hampers.

If you #everyone could get #together and donate towards filling these hamper requests we would absolutely appreciate and love it! 😊 #help #PayItForward #HelpingHands #HelpOthers

To donate

Etransfer:

[e-mail]

PayPal:

HarvestHillsCaresCalgary.Ca

GoFundMe:

gofund.me/4436e202

These Hampers are the last on our list! After working hard for the past month, we have finally gotten to the end of our wait list!

#truth #yyc #yyccc #yycliving #yycnow #yyclocal #calgary #calgarylife #calgaryalberta #calgaryevents #calgarycanada #donate #raiseawareness #Love

Please help us fill these last requests. Please #Share or #Retweet or #tag a #friend or #familymember!

@GrannyGTArp @joycevand @Calgary_Seniors @PaulSoniaSmith1 @PauwlinaD @DeniseMacIntyr9 @EveryAlbertan @von_elizabeth @DonateRecycleIT @71CROW @CJAY92 @JDfromCJAY @EWoolleyWard8

@JyotiGondek @gurbirward3 @MeetGuinness @servicerotties @ReapersPlace @QueerNativeYYC @RBReich @ABdoc4patients @ABDr_Cmrbdties @AB_Fam_Doc @ab_vax #AbLeg #abpoli #abgov #abhealth #canada #albertacanada #yyccommunity #ableg #abpoli #abgov #abhealth #seniors #seniorcitizen #NPO

#nonprofit #Generosity #helpinghandchallenge #TogetherWeCan #support #grateful #AcademicTwitter #activism @Hell_Berta @FromAlberta @jordanwitzel @globalnews @GlobalCalgary @cdunne16 @TruckerDougYEG @solfleurs @ArleneDickinson @WBrettWilson @Arfarfarf8 @souljaboy @bifnaked #YYC