Food Bank

Boxes of donated food items are shown at the Moisson Montreal food bank in Montreal, Saturday, December 7, 2019. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Graham Hughes

Challenging month for Canadian food banks amid holidays, rising demand

The latest numbers available show over 1.9 million Canadians accessed a food bank in just one month

 

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‘Ski bum’ ‘free ride’ accusations spark B.C. food bank access debate

As demand increases, Revelstoke charity deals with questions over who should be using its services

 

Members of the Langford City Council rolled up their sleeves and helped to pack food for people in need at the Goldstream Food Bank. (Thomas Eley/News Staff)

Langford City Council lends a helping hand at Goldstream Food Bank

City Councillor Mark Morely said it was great to see community involvement

 

Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank operations manager Tyson Elder says they are currently struggling for donations. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

‘Very impactful’: Saanichton Community Christmas raises funds for food bank

Last year’s event raised approximately $14,000 for the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank.

Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank operations manager Tyson Elder says they are currently struggling for donations. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
A cart is filled with pre-filled bags of food, during a Thanksgiving food drive for the Ottawa Food Bank at a grocery store in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang

‘Most challenging Thanksgiving:’ Holiday marked with soaring food bank use

Greater Vancouver Food Bank supporting 16,000 to 17,000 people a month, says COO

A cart is filled with pre-filled bags of food, during a Thanksgiving food drive for the Ottawa Food Bank at a grocery store in Ottawa, on Saturday, Oct. 7, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Justin Tang
Jann Arden designed the limited edition Animal Food Bank hoodie. (animalfoodbank.org)

Animal Food Bank to send 16 pallets of cat food across Western Canada

The organization needs $2,500 to ship the $85,000 of food

  • Oct 6, 2023
Jann Arden designed the limited edition Animal Food Bank hoodie. (animalfoodbank.org)
A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)

B.C. gets a D+ in Food Banks Canada’s poverty report card

Inaugural release shows B.C.’s housing market is ‘big factor’ in rising food insecurity rates

A volunteer at the Surrey Food Bank in 2022 sets up food for clients. A new poverty report card from Food Banks Canada shows B.C.’s unaffordable housing market is just one of the reasons why the province is barely passing. (Lauren Collins)
Mustard Seed Street Church and Food Bank director of operations Treska Watson stands by the clothing bank in the organization’s revamped hospitality space. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)

Victoria’s Mustard Seed Church and Food Bank improves facility after fire

The organization’s hospitality space is now almost double in size

Mustard Seed Street Church and Food Bank director of operations Treska Watson stands by the clothing bank in the organization’s revamped hospitality space. (Brendan Mayer/News Staff)
Workers gather food for a homeless mission while at the Edmonton Food Bank, in Edmonton on Friday July 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.

Gleaning, produce rescue at food banks helps feed communities, reduce waste

‘What prevailed was the practicality that food should not go to waste’

Workers gather food for a homeless mission while at the Edmonton Food Bank, in Edmonton on Friday July 21, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson.
North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Provincial government announces $7.5 million investment in food hub funding

Goal is to double the number of B.C.’s food hubs to 40 from the current 20

North Island MLA Michele Babchuk ties the apron up on Social Development and Poverty Reduction Minister Sheila Malcolmson as B.C. Premier David Eby adjusts his during the announcement of $7.5 million to the United Way by the province for Food Hubs. Photo by Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
Jody Williams, executive director of Bridges to Hope, a food bank in St. John’s, poses for a picture at the facility on Monday, June 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly

‘We’re addressing the symptom, not the cause’: food banks across Canada

The word “crisis” comes up quickly when speaking with those who run…

Jody Williams, executive director of Bridges to Hope, a food bank in St. John’s, poses for a picture at the facility on Monday, June 19, 2023. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Daly
Treska Watson, the director of operations at the Mustard Seed Street Church stands in front of a truck used to move donations from the location in Esquimalt after a fire on March 27 caused damage to the inside of the location in Victoria on Queens Avenue. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)

Soaring inflation, influx of student clients hit Victoria food bank

Mustard Seed resources being strained

  • Jun 12, 2023
Treska Watson, the director of operations at the Mustard Seed Street Church stands in front of a truck used to move donations from the location in Esquimalt after a fire on March 27 caused damage to the inside of the location in Victoria on Queens Avenue. (Hollie Ferguson/News Staff)
Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. minister of social development and poverty reduction, and Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank executive director, at a conference where the province announced a $7 million contribution to the food bank’s warehouse construction project. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)

B.C. government chips in $7 million for construction of food bank warehouse in Nanaimo

Loaves and Fishes still seeking $5 million for project on East Wellington Road

Sheila Malcolmson, B.C. minister of social development and poverty reduction, and Peter Sinclair, Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank executive director, at a conference where the province announced a $7 million contribution to the food bank’s warehouse construction project. (Karl Yu/News Bulletin)
Santa Claus Parade chair Shane Nickel-Thibodeau handed Cranbrook Foodbank Society volunteer coordinator Rachel Wolff a cheque for $3,957.03 on March 22. The money will go towards obtaining food essentials to feed locals in need (photo by Gillian Francis)

Supply chain shortage impacts Calgary and Cranbrook food banks

Calgary Food Bank has stopped supplying Cranbrook Foodbank Society with goods

Santa Claus Parade chair Shane Nickel-Thibodeau handed Cranbrook Foodbank Society volunteer coordinator Rachel Wolff a cheque for $3,957.03 on March 22. The money will go towards obtaining food essentials to feed locals in need (photo by Gillian Francis)
Members of the West Shore RCMP, including mascot Safety Bear, stand in front of the 35-foot canoe they filled with donated food Saturday (Dec. 10) during the detachment’s annual food drive. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: West Shore RCMP fills canoe during annual food drive

The detachment was aiming to beat 2021’s nearly $10K in donations for Goldstream Food Bank

Members of the West Shore RCMP, including mascot Safety Bear, stand in front of the 35-foot canoe they filled with donated food Saturday (Dec. 10) during the detachment’s annual food drive. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
The Campbell River Food Bank's staff is small and mighty, but Manager Joanne Watson says they need more as they head into the holidays and 2023. Pictured here are Volunteers (Left to Right): Cynthia Barnes,warehouse manager Josh Orwin, manager Jo Watson, Annie Hildebrand, Sandra Rushton, Anatolii Samoilyk, and Driver Ross Milnthrop. Photo Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror

Campbell River Food Bank manager sees tough road ahead of the holidays

Uptick in renters, double income families and seniors relying on Food Bank

The Campbell River Food Bank's staff is small and mighty, but Manager Joanne Watson says they need more as they head into the holidays and 2023. Pictured here are Volunteers (Left to Right): Cynthia Barnes,warehouse manager Josh Orwin, manager Jo Watson, Annie Hildebrand, Sandra Rushton, Anatolii Samoilyk, and Driver Ross Milnthrop. Photo Edward Hitchins/Campbell River Mirror
The Royal Bay Secondary School community came out in full force Wednesday (Nov. 30) for the school’s 10,000 Tonight food drive in support of the Goldstream Food Bank. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Royal Bay Secondary School shoots for 10,000 food items

The school’s annual 10,000 Tonight food drive returned to its full program Wednesday

The Royal Bay Secondary School community came out in full force Wednesday (Nov. 30) for the school’s 10,000 Tonight food drive in support of the Goldstream Food Bank. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young

Why anti-poverty researchers bristle at holiday appeals for food bank donations

Addressing hunger requires systemic changes, researchers say

Boxes wait to be filled with provisions at The Daily Bread Food Bank warehouse in Toronto on Wednesday March 18, 2020. Canadian food insecurity researchers say holiday appeals for people to donate to their local food banks can be tough swallow. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young
Sooke Firefighters’ annual Santa Run is set for DEC. 10, with four trucks moving neighbourhood to neighbourhood to collect donations for the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Sooke firefighters rescue Christmas for many

Annual Santa Run set for Dec. 10 throughout town

Sooke Firefighters’ annual Santa Run is set for DEC. 10, with four trucks moving neighbourhood to neighbourhood to collect donations for the Sooke Food Bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
Belmont Secondary School Grade 12 student Sophia Benables and Grade 9 student Jess Keep show off some of the food donations collected by them and their classmates ahead of Thursday’s (Nov. 10) community food drive in support of the Goldstream Food Bank. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

PHOTOS: Belmont students collect food donations for Goldstream Food Bank

The Fall Food Drive is usually part of the 10,000 Tonight initiative, but was split off this year

Belmont Secondary School Grade 12 student Sophia Benables and Grade 9 student Jess Keep show off some of the food donations collected by them and their classmates ahead of Thursday’s (Nov. 10) community food drive in support of the Goldstream Food Bank. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)