Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Nicola Wealth Partner to Provide Vancouver School Board with Funding
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank held a press conference on April 16th to announce a large gift to the Vancouver School Board, by the GVFB in partnership with Nicola Wealth, to help address the anticipated decrease in City of Vancouver funding for its meal program.
April 16th, 2025, Vancouver, BC: Today, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) has partnered with John and Claire Nicola of Nicola Wealth to publicly announce a significant one-time donation to the Vancouver School Board (VSB) following their recent loss of funding to the Food4Schools program. Earlier this year, the City of Vancouver informed the VSB of its plans to discontinue funding beyond the terms of their existing agreement, which ends in 2025. To reduce barriers created by this loss of funding, the GVFB and Nicola Wealth will donate a combined $170,000 to support children in Vancouver facing food insecurity.
The Food4Schools program is run by the VSB and subsidized by the City of Vancouver, supplying students with hot meals that are packaged and delivered directly to schools. This program cannot support the 2,000+ children and families who rely on these meals without full funding. Food insecurity amongst youth and children under the age of 18 continues to increase year after year, and at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, over 25% of all registered GVFB clients are children.
“On behalf of the Vancouver School Board, I want to extend our deepest thanks to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Nicola Wealth for stepping forward in such a meaningful way,” said Victoria Jung, Vancouver School Board Chair. “Their generosity ensures that students who rely on the Food4Schools program will continue to have access to the nourishment they need to learn, grow and thrive. We are incredibly grateful to see community partners coming together to support our students when they need it most.”
The GVFB is already in the middle of a busy year – launching its first-ever Capital Campaign to secure a permanent home in Vancouver. However, the GVFB recognizes the immediate need to support those facing food security in the community, especially children, and couldn’t stand by as less students in Vancouver have access to food. Thanks to growing public support, the GVFB is on track to purchase their Vancouver distribution centre at 3545 Lougheed Highway in 2025, eliminating their current lease’s annual property tax burden. Combined with a matched donation from John and Claire Nicola, the total contribution aligns with the amount the VSB needs to offset funding setbacks.
“We need to set children up for success and do everything we can to ensure they have the best start in life – hunger leads to poor grades, bullying, stigma and lifelong mental health issues.” David Long, CEO of Greater Vancouver Food Bank
Access to healthy food for students is proven to improve children’s physical, social and academic health. Although the GVFB currently supports several youth-focused agencies in the Vancouver area, this donation marks the first direct support to the School Board in one of their catchment cities. By making this one-time gift, the GVFB and Nicola Wealth aim to reduce the stress and financial burden felt by parents and guardians and improve the lives of children in the community who rely on these critical programs.
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About the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB): The GVFB provides food to people living in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore each month through direct distribution. We also provide food support to 150 Agencies throughout these communities, such as housing agencies, women’s and children’s shelters, transition houses, and after-school programs, providing meals and snacks to thousands of people each week. With a mission to provide healthy food to those in need, the GVFB is BC’s largest food bank.
Media Contact: Emma Nelson, Communications Manager, Emman@foodbank.bc.ca. 604 841 0982.
