Cheryl Longeway, the co-founder of the Crossfield Madden food bank says that it surprised her there was so much need for a food bank when they opened in January of 2024. Operating as a nonprofit out of the old library in Crossfield, the food bank had to first prove they could sustain their efforts for a full year.
With support from the community, they could, and they received official food bank status in April 2025. In that time, the 100 per cent volunteer run food bank has supported hundreds of community members in Crossfield, Madden and beyond.
That support is possible through the variety of programs they run to help tackle food insecurity within Rocky View County. Their weekly hamper program matches in-need individuals with two to three weeks’ worth of groceries and their weekly Thursday top up program is open to anyone in the community.
“Maybe all they need is some milk or whatever’s in our pantry,” Longeway explains. “It was April when we started it and [now] we get about 18 families a week, which is actually quite a lot.”
They also have a Christmas and birthday program that provides a meal, a gift, and some extras to make celebrating those meaningful moments more accessible. During back to school, they partner with Stephen’s Backpacks and they’ll be newly responsible for the snack attack program come September.
For Longeway, part of what makes the food bank so successful is that it serves the community and acts as a part of it. Longeway is a Crossfield local, like many of the volunteers.
“I said to somebody in [a] conversation, ‘I’m so happy you felt comfortable phoning and asking for a hamper,’ and he actually said, ‘Cheryl, it made it easier knowing it was you.’” Longeway says.
But, for some, that close connection can lead to hesitancy to reach out for support from shame. The food bank also offers a service where, if someone is uncomfortable directly requesting support from the Crossfield Madden bank, they can anonymously request one through the Airdrie food bank.
Longeway says that the volunteers and staff at the Airdrie food bank really acted as mentors while they were getting the bank running. In fact, she credits many local connections in ensuring that the Crossfield Madden food bank would successful in its mission.
“We really want to come from a perspective of, we’re a community, we work best together.” Longway says.
In May 2025, Kraft Hockeyville donated 23,000 pounds of pasta, beans, sauces and other non-perishables to the bank. The $70,000 worth of food had to be stored outside of the provided space for the Crossfield Madden food bank, and after reaching out to local businesses, they received the space needed.
Longeway says that the food bank receives most of their donations close to Christmas time, and while they are grateful for the support, summer is another time where the need for donations rises.
Many of the people receiving a weekly hamper are families with children or seniors. Currently, the food bank is accepting monetary donations and items on their summer wish list.
Donations of cooking oil, pancake syrup, and canned fruits and vegetables are needed. The wish list also calls for dish and laundry soap, toilet paper, and sandwich bags.
