This article appeared in the Spring 2016 issue of Pulse Crop News.

The Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge was thrilled to add Viterra and Crop Protection Services (CPS) to their list of community supporters in 2014 and 2015 – word is, they’re full of beans!

The food bank hosts an annual pancake breakfast during the local Whoop Up Days Festival, and each year before the parade that kicks off the festivities for the week, the food bank invites community members down to their parking lot to get into the Whoop Up spirit. Using The Interfaith Chinook Country Kitchen (that normally provides cooking classes to teach families to cook healthy foods on a limited budget), volunteers from Viterra and CPS joined up with the food bank to cook and serve one of the best breakfasts in town.

Along with the traditional whole wheat pancakes and sausages, the breakfast also includes real eggs, fruit, juice, and milk. Since 2014, the breakfast has also included homemade protein-packed baked beans thanks to the sponsorship provided by Viterra and Crop Protection Services. More than 900 community members took in the fun in 2015, and Interfaith Food Bank expects to serve well over 1,000 patrons at the 10th Annual Pancake Breakfast in August 2016.

The food bank is grateful for donations of pulses at any time through the year, as they are included with the food hampers provided to families in need.  Beans, lentils and other pulses are also used in cooking classes, and included in Diabetic Bundles for those with special dietary needs.

The food bank also offers a learning garden, which teaches families to increase their food security by growing their own food, and peas and beans are grown to educate families about where their food comes from.

Including the baked beans with the pancake breakfast exposes community members to delicious and healthy ingredients, and is a great way to promote the International Year of Pulses 2016.

For more information about Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge, visit www.interfaithfoodbank.ca or find us on Facebook and Twitter.