How you helped Adrian and Ann’s family
Adrian and Ann moved here two years ago with their two daughters (ages 21 and 2 years old) so that Adrian could study hospitality management. With their 19-year old son still living in Mexico City, they came to BC to learn new skills and build a solid future for their family. And then COVID-19 hit and they both lost their jobs in the hospitality industry; the opportunity to build a better life dissolved in front of them, with no income and a family to feed, and rent to pay.
This family is so glad that a friend told Ann about the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Ann says the people there are so kind. They go once a week to get fresh fruits and vegetables, along with the other food they need to feed themselves and their young daughter. Strawberries and fresh bread are their favourite items to receive from the Food Bank! They are grateful for your support to help them through this pandemic until they can get back to work and school.
Refrigeration for our Community Agency Partners
When Food Banks Canada sent through the GVFB’s portion of the recent federal funding for food banks, our CEO, David Long had an idea. We were already sending thousands of grocery bags full of food each week to our previous neighbourhood house partners, to support efforts to get food to seniors, people who were self-isolating, or who struggle with mobility issues. “What if we could help them with refrigeration on-site, and give them more perishable food?” David wondered. Both the GVFB Board of Directors and Food Banks Canada loved the idea, and the plan took shape.
To date, we have distributed industrial-sized fridges and freezers to 14 Community Agency Partners, including the North Burnaby Neighbourhood House, Community Builder’s Group, and the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House.
“The Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House benefits greatly from a new freezer donated by the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. Our food programs have doubled in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, requiring more space for food to be processed and stored. We are now able to have a larger selection of produce, meats, and dairy stored on-site for our weekly breakfast and lunches. The new freezer space is also helping us store the abundance of produce being harvested at our new urban farm, ensuring that nothing is going to waste. Thank you from our neighbours, our staff, and volunteers.” – Maria at the Downtown Eastside Neighbourhood House
Community Agency Partners Thank You!
“Thank you again for supporting our annual resident BBQ. Due to COVID-19, we had a socially distanced event with small groups. We truly appreciate the food support as it has been very difficult for us to manage with our $4/day/person budget.” – Dick Bell-Irving at the BC Borstal Society
“Our community dinner was a huge success! We made Jamaican coco bread, and a mango slaw to go with the Jamaican patties. People enjoyed the meal immensely and we have enough patties to do a repeat dinner in the next couple of weeks. Also, all of the chocolates and beverages were hugely appreciated. Thanks again for the great donations.” – Diane Brown at the Gathering Place Community Centre
“Thank you so much for the $1,000 grant to Mission Possible! This grant goes beyond purchasing a chest freezer for our Power Saturday Breakfast Program; it shows our participants that the community cares about them. Not to mention that during these uncertain times, your support means much, much more to us. For this, we are truly grateful.” – Ida at Mission Possible
Gillies Malnarich – A retired professor devoting her time to support the Food Bank
Gillies is our Development volunteer who takes your donation calls, answers our client inquiry calls and emails, and helps us enter donations into our database. A seasoned professor who travelled all over North America before she retired, Gillies takes pride in volunteering at the GVFB.
Gillies’ kindness is contagious, and she walks into the office every shift with a huge smile on her face. When she was asked about her volunteering experience, she said: “During COVID, I would say that the Food Bank has really risen to the challenge of what you have put in place, all kinds of procedures so the clients feel safe, people working here feel safe, and the volunteers feel safe, and all of that’s been done so I’ve been even more impressed than I was initially!”
Thank you Gillies, for your amazing dedication each week!
Ray Bergen – Our most generous monthly donor
“It’s a struggle to lift oneself out of poverty. Some people think that poverty is something of one’s choosing, but it’s not. It’s multiple factors beyond people’s control, not a lifestyle choice.”
A Vancouver businessman with a history of charitable endeavours, Ray Bergen, President of Canreal Management Corporation is the Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s most generous monthly donor. As someone who experienced extreme food insecurity as a child, Ray holds a deep connection to the work we do, providing healthy food to those in need.
“If you can afford to provide that sustained funding you should do it,” Ray says. “That’s the most impactful. It’s not just once a year at Christmas time. Poverty exists every day.”
Monthly donations will provide the Greater Vancouver Food Bank with regular and predictable donations, it also increases our efficiency in gift processing. To become a monthly donor, click here.
Upcoming Events
4th Annual BC Thanksgiving Fundraiser
September 12th to 26th, 2020
The 5th Annual BC Thanksgiving Fundraiser will be held both virtually and in-person. Volunteers will deliver stickers to 50,000 homes in Vancouver, Burnaby, North Vancouver and New Westminster to encourage residents to donate online. Please note we will not be knocking on doors and soliciting cash or ask for your credit card information.
The GVFB team will also be on-site at the following four Walmarts on September 26th from 11am to 3pm:
North Vancouver: 925 Marine Drive
Vancouver: 3585 Grandview Highway
Burnaby: Lougheed Shopping Centre 9855 Austin Avenue
New Westminster: 805 Boyd Street
https://bcthanks.foodbank.bc.ca
8th Annual REEL Thanksgiving Challenge
September 28th to October 9th, 2020
The REEL Thanksgiving Challenge is our biggest fundraiser! The BC Film industry supports the Food Bank annually by hosting a friendly fundraising competition to see who can raise the most money in two weeks. The winning production of each day will be given the sponsor’s donation to add to the production’s final total. This fundraiser has raised more than $1.07M for the Food Bank to date.
Turkey Trot
October 1st to 15th, 2020
The Granville Island Turkey Trot is a hallmark event for Granville Island and the Vancouver running community. The annual event brings together runners in a celebration of Thanksgiving, demonstrating our community of running, our gratitude for the sport, and our commitment to supporting others. This scenic and fast 10KM race starts at Granville Island and loops over the Burrard Bridge to the Seawall, before turning at Science World and heading back along the Seawall to the energetic Finish Line on Granville Island. In 2020, the event is being offered as a Virtual Race.
Register as a runner today and choose the Food Bank as your charity of choice!
Canadian Free Wills Network
Food Bank supporters, aged 45 or over, can have their simple Will written or updated free of charge. It’s easy —here’s how:
- Inform us that you’re interested in the program.
- You’ll receive a package with a list of participating lawyers in your area, the terms and conditions of the program and a confidential declaration form.
- Select a lawyer and arrange for an appointment.
There’s no obligation for you to include a gift to any charity in your will — although we’d be thrilled for you to include us!
Confidential contact:
Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Greg Douglas, Director of Development
[email protected] | 604-314-6980
Apple Crumble Recipe
Photo credit: Ahead of Thyme
Ingredients
Filling:
1 apple peeled, cored, and sliced into small cubes
1 tbsp granulated sugar
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping:
3 1/2 tbsp (30 g) all-purpose flour
2 tbsp (25g) granulated sugar
tbsp (30g) unsalted butter, melted
optional – 1 1/2 tbsp old-fashioned oats, or chopped nuts
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350F/180C.
To make the apple filling: In a small bowl, toss apples with sugar and cinnamon. Divide apples into 2 individual ramekins, and press them slightly. Set aside.
To make the topping: Mix flour and sugar, then add melted butter. Mix with a fork, until mixture clumps together into crumbly balls. Mix in oats and nuts, if using. Sprinkle crumble evenly on top of the apple mixture.
Bake for about 30 minutes, until topping is golden brown and apples are tender. Serve warm and top with ice cream if you want.
Recipe from: Pretty, Simple, Sweet
