"Food is an excellent entry point into building relationships, and we consistently see this through our meal program. Not only does GVFB’s support enable us to operate our meal program and ensure low-income people in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside have healthy, filling, and tasty meals daily, it also helps us develop trusting relationships. The consistency of our meal program shows that we are a trustworthy service provider and will show up when we say we will. We often see people come back day after day for our meal service and snacks, and through that repeated exposure we’re able to build relationships with them. Over time, community members will share that they often need other supports too—legal support, shelter, information about service providers—and our staff are there daily to help them and tell them about our other programs that help. GVFB’s support allows us to serve those meals and open the door to providing additional supports when needed."

"We have recently had a client begin our Family Pantry Program for the first time. They enjoy cooking but have financial barriers to food security and have tried accessing free food programs in the past that haven't quite worked for their diet. This client has been so pleased with our grocery boxes as we have been able to provide some culturally relevant sauces and dried ingredients that we have been able to pick up for them from our GVFB agencies program. Even with a language barrier, food can connect us in a meaningful way, and we are proud to be able to offer that support."

"Always having snacks, breakfast, and lunch options in my room has helped me connect with students more and help students connect with each other. They get so excited when I restock, and it's because the food bank has some great options that their parents would not buy at home. I can encourage them to eat healthy and try new things. Making sure these students are fed improves their academic ability. I could not imagine my program being as successful as it is without the help of the food bank."

"The most significant contribution from GVFB was the opportunity to launch an onsite breakfast program. Through a successful grant application, we secured funds from GVFB to initiate this program. With the allocated funds, we were able to purchase bulk quantities of hash browns, sausages, bagels, waffles, condiments, and other essentials, ensuring a supply for approximately five months. Witnessing the positive impact of this breakfast program on our residents and their well-being, our senior management team made the decision to establish it as a permanent program. This has had a huge impact on our residents, not only providing them access to food security, but also encouraged regular schedules and increased nutrition, which is very helpful in a harm reduction setting."

"Food Bank has significantly enhanced our program's ability to provide food to the children and seniors in need. By partnering with GVFB we have been able to expand the variety and quantity of nutritious food available to those we serve. It also allows us to have access to a wider range of food items, including fresh produce, dairy products, and proteins, which are essential for promoting healthy development in children and supporting the nutritional needs of seniors. Working with GVFB enables us to stretch our resources further, ensuring that we can reach more individuals and families in our community. We now have children loving carrots and broccoli and learning to make a healthy food choice. Seniors are exploring more options like plant-based food to suit more for their dietary needs. The collaboration with the food bank has been instrumental in enhancing the reach, variety, and quality of food provided by our program, allowing us to better meet the needs of the people in our community and make a meaningful difference in their lives."