Community Agencies

Our Community Agencies are local registered charities that provide a variety of food security programs and services within their communities.

How it works

Community Agencies have access to a variety of nutritious food through our Community Markets, including fresh produce, dairy products, eggs, frozen proteins, bread, and shelf-stable items.

Agencies in the Market Select program access our Community Markets once a week. To join the program, agencies go through a thorough application and evaluation process. Once approved, they enter into a legal agreement with the GVFB. Applications open each January and can be found here on our website.

Community Agencies looking for occasional food support can apply to our Market Request program, which provides access to the Community Market up to once per month, based on availability and program eligibility.

See below for a detailed description of our programs.

Community Agency Programs

Market Select: Closed program, accessible by annual application process.

Agencies fill out a monthly order form online and pick up food once a week on a set schedule at the Community Market.

Community Capacity: Closed program, not accepting applications.

Large agencies that operate food distribution programs receive weekly pallet deliveries of fresh, frozen and shelf stable food products.

Community Pallet: Open program, based on the ability to accept large quantities of food and dependent on availability. Email for access.

Agencies with large-scale food operation and access to a truck that can pick up pallets of food. Agencies in this program may receive emails from the GVFB offering specific pallets of food. This is based on surplus availability and is therefore not guaranteed on a regular basis.

Market Request: Open program, accepting sign-ups if criteria are met. See more information in the section below.

- Provides occasional access to our Community Market.

How to receive support

Do you need food support to improve food security programming for those in need? The Market Request program is here to help! If your organization is not located in our Greater Vancouver catchment area, please refer to the Provincial Agencies page.

The Market Request program offers the following support:

Access to shop at one of our Community Markets stocked by donations

Flexible scheduling based on availability.

Once a month maximum pick-up.

Eligibility requirements:

Be a non-profit organization with a registered charity number within our local catchment area (Vancouver, Burnaby, New West, and the North Shore).

Operate a food program that is low-cost or free to people experiencing food insecurity.

Have on-site refrigeration and dry storage.

Successfully complete the online sign-up form and host a site visit as part of the approval process.

Additional Resources

The GVFB has developed a set of documents to help guide our partnerships with one another. These resources outline shared expectations and provide important information about the policies, procedures, and requirements specific to each program.

Please review the documents below for more detailed information about working in partnership with the GVFB!

Community Agencies Map

Testimonials

"The partnership with the GVFB has been transformative for the youth we support through our drop-in center. Many of the young people who access our services are navigating complex challenges, including unstable housing, low income, and limited family support. With the help of GVFB, we’ve been able to provide consistent access to nourishing snacks, pantry staples, groceries, and hot dinners each day. This stability in food access has not only helped meet basic needs but has also fostered a stronger sense of safety and belonging in our space."

"We can offer more variety which in turn gives more nutrition to our clients. Fresh veggies are added to our meals. We now offer snacks between meals with the food offered by GVFB. This is extremely valuable considering our clients come from a street background and lack of food has impacted many. GVFB assists us with making sure we never turn people down if they are hungry. 24/7. They can always find 'something in the cupboards.'"

"The Door is Open deeply appreciates GVFB for its long-standing and unwavering support in providing essential food supplies and providing healthy ingredients like fruits, vegetables, and proteins for our meal programs. We see the GVFB as a very important ally in our work to feed vulnerable people in the DTES. This partnership helps people in need while building healthier communities by giving everyone access to nourishment."

"Having access to food, especially the fresh produce and frozen foods, has upped our "food game" in our out of school programs. We serve children and youth living in the DTES, most who are low income and living in difficult circumstances. We have been able to serve less pantry foods, and provide fresh snacks and occasional warm meals (when we host full-day programs)."

"Thanks to our strong partnership with GVFB, we feel confident and supported in maintaining sustainable food resources for our community members. Many participants in our food programs experience uncertainty about consistent access to food, but this partnership helps ensure ongoing support and stability."