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MARIA'S Pantry
Maria's Pantry volunteers

Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation

Maria’s Pantry provides free, nutritious groceries to individuals and families facing hunger—no judgment, just support.

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About Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation

Our Story

Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation was created from a simple but powerful belief: no one in our community should ever go hungry.

The foundation began when Maria saw firsthand how many families were struggling to put food on the table. What started as a small act of kindness, sharing food with neighbours in need, quickly grew into a community-driven mission. As the need increased, so did the support. Volunteers stepped forward, donations raised, and Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation was formed to meet the rising demand for food assistance with dignity and compassion.

From its earliest days, the foundation has focused on more than just food. It has focused on care, respect, and community connection, ensuring that every person served feels valued and supported.

Our Accomplishments

Over the years, Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation has grown into a trusted source of support within the community. Our accomplishments include:

  • •Providing hundreds of food hampers to families, seniors, individuals, and newcomers in need
  • •Supporting households year-round with nutritious groceries and essential items
  • •Launching annual initiatives such as the Christmas Hamper Campaign, bringing relief and hope to families during the holiday season
  • •Purses of Hope, and outreach support for unhoused community members
  • •Building strong partnerships with organizations to expand resources and outreach
  • •Mobilizing a dedicated team of volunteers who contribute countless hours of service
  • •Creating fundraising and recycling programs to ensure sustainability and continued growth

Each milestone reflects the power of the community working together to support one another.

Our Values

At the heart of Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation are values that guide everything we do:

Compassion

Serving with kindness and understanding

Dignity

Treating every individual with respect

Community

Working together to create meaningful change

Hope

Offering support today while building a stronger tomorrow

Looking Forward

As the need for food support continues to grow, Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation remains committed to expanding its reach, strengthening partnerships, and finding new ways to support our community. With the help of volunteers, donors, and supporters, we continue to turn compassion into action one family at a time.

About Us

The heart of Maria's Pantry

From sorting donations to greeting visitors, our volunteers make everything possible.

Become a Volunteer

Register through Alberta Health Services to start volunteering with us.

Register to Volunteer

High School Students

Need extra credit hours? Earn volunteer hours while giving back to your community.

Email us at: maria@mariaspantry.com

Active Volunteers

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Svitlana

Volunteer

Hello! My name is Svitlana. I’m originally from Ukraine. I have a wonderful family — a loving husband and two amazing children. In my younger years, I was active in sports and proud to be a running champion in Ukraine. These days, I stay home to care for my children. We enjoy spending time together, especially walking in the park and exploring nature. I’m also learning English and working to improve every day. One of the most important things in my life is helping others. I volunteer at Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation, where I support families in need. Volunteering brings me joy — it gives me strength and purpose. I truly believe in kindness, compassion, and the power of community. When we work together, we can make a big difference in people’s lives.

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Craig Goddard

Volunteer

Hi there. My name is Craig Goddard, and I volunteer with Maria's Food Pantry. I have volunteered here since the beginning of December 2024. I enjoy working with people and lending a hand whenever I get the chance. In my professional life, I enjoy owning a small manufacturing business that I run, where I work on new concept machining projects and light production work. If you see me around, feel free to come by and say hi. I don't bite.

Luda

Luda

Volunteer

My name is Luda. I graduated from university in Ukraine with a degree in oil and gas engineering and worked in my field for 20 years. I have a family of five: my husband, two daughters, and a son. My eldest daughter is married and continues to live in Ukraine. We arrived in Canada at the end of 2022. Since then, I have worked at Dollarama, in landscaping, and I currently work in a flower shop. In my free time, I enjoy cooking and taking care of houseplants.

Harsh

Harsh

Volunteer

I am a compassionate and motivated individual dedicated to helping others navigate life's challenges with care and understanding. I am passionate about spreading awareness, kindness, and love within the community, and believe in creating meaningful connections with people from all walks of life. Through my work and daily interactions, I support others with empathy, dignity, and patience, always striving to make a positive and lasting impact.

Madeline

Madeline

Volunteer

Helping at the pantry brings me so much happiness and fulfillment. What began as a simple desire to give back has turned into something truly special. Through this journey, I've found not only a sense of purpose but a second family made up of kind, caring, and supportive people. I've built meaningful friendships, including wonderful friends like you, and I'm incredibly grateful for our amazing volunteer team. Working together, supporting one another, and helping those in need has created a strong sense of belonging, love, and community that I cherish every day.

Leadership

Picture coming soon

Maria

Founder

Bio coming soon.

Maria K

Maria K

Vice President

Maria K is a long-term Vice President and dedicated volunteer at Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation, where she works closely with the leadership team, volunteers, and community partners to support food distribution and outreach initiatives. Her role involves helping coordinate efforts that ensure individuals and families facing food insecurity receive assistance with dignity, care, and respect.

Volunteering is deeply personal to Maria K. She believes it is about showing up consistently, offering support wherever it is needed, and being present for the community in both big and small ways. Through her work with the foundation, she is committed to strengthening community connections, supporting those in need, and contributing to meaningful, lasting change.

Chezca Yog-a

Chezca Yog-a, LPN

Treasurer

Chezca is a Licensed Practical Nurse and a dedicated volunteer serving as Treasurer for Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation. Born and raised in the Philippines, Chezca embraced Calgary as her new home, bringing with her a deep commitment to care, community, and service.

With a professional background in nursing, Chezca applies her strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and ethical responsibility to co-manage the foundation's financial operations with Maria and along with other board of directors. Her experience in healthcare enhances her ability to navigate complex challenges with compassion and precision, qualities she brings to support the organization's mission to fight food insecurity.

As an immigrant, Chezca experienced and understands the importance of community support and is passionate about giving back to the city that welcomed her, helping ensure that families in need in Calgary have access to food and hope for a better future.

"Serving others is both a privilege and a blessing—rooted in gratitude, compassion, and the desire to make a positive difference in every life I touch." -CY

Kristin Concepcion

Kristin Concepcion

Secretary

Kristin Concepcion is a dynamic and results-driven business administration professional with a strong background in systems analysis and community leadership. Prior to moving to Canada, she worked as a systems analyst in Singapore, where she developed her analytical and problem-solving skills.

Now serving as a dedicated advocate for food security, Kristin plays a key leadership role at Maria's Food & Pantry Foundation. Her mission is rooted in empowering underserved communities and promoting sustainable solutions to food insecurity through innovative fundraising strategies and strong community partnerships.

Kristin's passion, strategic thinking, and commitment to service continue to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those the foundation serves.

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