A food charity in southern Alberta has closed its doors after public health inspectors discovered several significant health concerns at its facility. A letter from Alberta Health Services says health inspectors ordered the Southern Community Food Security Society in Raymond, Alta., to close earlier this month after a health inspection discovered several conditions which could be “injurious or dangerous to the public health.” Those findings, outlined in a letter from AHS, include evidence of mouse droppings, a pallet of eggs featuring more than 600 dozen eggs without proper refrigeration, expired baby formula and open overhead doors that allowed pests to get inside the facility. It also said three cats were also seen inside the food establishment at various times during the inspection. The establishment — which was located at 4-257 Railway Avenue and had been in operation since 2022 — operated as a food bank and thrift store for the town of roughly 4,000 people, just southeast of Lethbridge. AHS says the charity’s owner Betty Loder verbally confirmed receiving the notice on Aug. 14. A message shared to social media by the charity confirmed it ceased operations on Aug. 17 and said the closure stemmed from struggling to find people to work in the facility and for a “lack of support” from the municipal government. “There have certainly been members who have done incredible things to support our mission, (but) some have put up major roadblocks to our success in helping relieve food insecurity in rural southern Alberta communities,” a statement shared to Facebook said. “With the continued lack of supports, we have been left with no other choice.” The message also apologized to community members who relied on the service. “We are sincerely and truly sorry to the folks our closing will cause suffering to,” the message said. “We hope that we have inspired neighbourly love and kindness enough that more than a few will pick up the torch in our place and work towards alleviated food insecurity for our rural and small town neighbours.”
