Fancy cars in the parking lot and other myths the Calgary Food Bank is looking to debunk

Calgary Food Bank CEO Melissa From says the charity is confronting a stubborn myth: that people arriving in higher-end cars are “rich” and don’t need help. A 10-day study by the Food Bank’s team involved counting thousands of vehicles in the parking lot and recording make, model, and year. Researchers found about nine out of 10 cars were economy vehicles, with only one out of 10 classified as premium. Even then, many premium cars were “very, very dated,” with an average cash value around $12,000. From attributes the belief to the “oddball effect,” where standout brands catch attention.