Interfaith Food Bank Society of Lethbridge recognizes the human dignity of those in need and provides food and access to services and resources generated from within our community. We have been providing emergency food assistance to Lethbridge and area since 1989 and work with the community to secure the resources necessary to provide services to individuals and families in need. Food security is our main goal. We believe it is necessary to meet immediate needs first, and then to connect our clients with the other community resources that can help address the underlying issues that place them in need of emergency food assistance.We provide emergency food assistance through the food bank; work in partnership with community organizations to offer referrals and outreach programs to connect those we serve with local resources; support area food banks and food security initiatives by providing surplus food to partner agencies through our Food Share Program; offer free cooking classes through The Interfaith Chinook Country Kitchen where we teach people to prepare healthy meals on a limited budget; provide learning opportunities in the Interfaith Learning Garden where we teach people to grow their own food; offer The Second Door Thrift Store where families can purchase household items at discount pricing; provide access to community kitchen/multi-purpose programming space in the Co-op Community Kitchen; and run an inclusive volunteer program.We offer a hand up, not just a hand out, and our donors support us due to our accountability, transparency and genuine impact on those we serve.