Calgary Stampede kitchens are firing up again to reach their goal of 100,000 meals for Alberta food banks.

Calgary Stampede workers prepare thousands of chicken dinners to be distributed by the Calgary Food Bank. (Image credit: Dan McGarvey/CBC)

Calgary Stampede canteens are fired up to help produce 100,000 meals for Albertans in need after a quiet year.

The production line, which includes 21 invited employees, will spend the next five weeks preparing chicken dinners for food banks in Calgary and other parts of the province.

It's part of a national effort by the Quebec-based charity La Tablée des Chefs.

Their co-op kitchens began taking food donations from farms, suppliers and restaurants at the start of the pandemic that would otherwise go to waste and using it to feed struggling Canadians.

Executive Chef Derek Dale says it's exciting to see the Calgary Stampede kitchen relaunch after a quiet year. — Executive Chef Derek Dale says it's exciting to see the Calgary Stampede kitchen back in business after a quiet year.(Dan McGarvey/CBC)

The charity works with food banks and organizations in Calgary, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Toronto, as well as Quebec.

“We've never done 100,000 meals. The biggest event we did was 10 years ago and had maybe 17,000 people,” said Derek Dale, head chef of the Calgary Stampede. “It's a great project.”

Dale said the initiative has reinvigorated the kitchens and brought back staff who had not worked there last year.

“We are very happy to be able to bring our employees back. There are 21 of them, 10 of which work in the morning and 11 at night,” Dale said.

Twenty-one workers have been hired by the Calgary Stampede to maintain the production line for the next five weeks.(Dan McGarvey/CBC)

The production line produces boxes with foil trays containing nutritious and tasty dinners.

The Calgary Food Bank is the primary recipient of food distributed throughout the province.

“The food bank is very grateful,” said Farhana Janmohamed, board member of the Calgary Food Bank.

“This is food for Albertans and it goes a long way in supporting our customers in the Calgary area and through our partner agencies,” he said.

According to Janmohamed, the food bank does not discriminate and food can end up on the tables of people from all walks of life in all communities.

Farhana Janmohamed, with the Calgary Food Bank, says the food will be donated to families and people from all walks of life who are facing food insecurity during the pandemic.(Dan McGarvey/CBC)

Farhana Janmohamed, with the Calgary Food Bank, says the food will be given to families and people from all walks of life who are facing food insecurity during the pandemic. — Farhana Janmohamed, with the Calgary Food Bank, says the food will be donated to families and people from all walks of life who are facing food insecurity during the pandemic.(Dan McGarvey/CBC)

“Because of the pandemic, we've seen challenges, but we're blessed with the generosity of Calgarians. We've seen even more generosity during the pandemic. Calgarians are amazing,” he said.

More than 600 tons of fresh and frozen food is prepared throughout the country during the trip.

Solidarity Kitchens' goal is to prepare and deliver more than two million meals by 2021.

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