Burnaby, BC, Wednesday January 28th: One month after the official opening of the YWCAs Cindy Beedie Place, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) delivered a significant donation to support the buildingβs new residents. The 56-unit community provides affordable, long-term housing for women and children leaving violence.
To support residents, the GVFB donatedΒ two GVFB trucksΒ fullΒ of goods toΒ YWCAsΒ Cindy Beedie PlaceΒ in Burnaby.Β TheΒ donation included overΒ 8,000 poundsΒ of fresh food, including eggs, milk, and produce, alongside essential non-food items including toilet paper and menstrual products. The donation also includedΒ formulaΒ and diapers to help support families with young children, items that are often costly for households toΒ purchase.Β Β
βChildrenΒ in single-parent families are at the highest risk of poverty in BC and food insecurity is a critical issue with the rising cost of groceries. For women and children leaving violence, financial barriers can be even more significant,β says YWCA BC CEO Erin Seeley. βWeβre grateful for the Greater Vancouver Food Bankβs generous support of the single mothers and children living at YWCA Cindy Beedie Place, and we look forward to more opportunities for our two organizations to work together.β
Through its agency program, the GVFB supports more than 160 local and provincial community agencies with both ongoing food and essentials support and one-time donations. Building on its long-standing relationship with Ryan and Cindy Beedie, the GVFB was proud to support families during their transition into the building. Access to food and essential items can play a key role in the success of community programs by helping organizations better connect with the people they serve.
βWhen I heard Cindy was opening this building, I knew we wanted to support the residents from the very beginning. We arranged to provide staple food and essential non-food items to help families start this new chapter.β David Long, CEO, Greater Vancouver Food Bank, βWe are incredibly proud of the work happening at Cindy Beedie Place and look forward to supporting residents however we can.β
Following the success of this initial donation, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank is in discussions with YWCAs Cindy Beedie Place about ongoing food support and programming for residents. With a vision of a British Columbia where everyone has access to healthy food through efficient distribution, innovation, and partnerships, the GVFB continues to expand its network to increase the impact of fresh, healthy food support across the province.
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About the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB):
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing healthy food to people in need. The GVFB supports individuals and families through direct distribution in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore, as well as through more than 160 agency partners locally and across the province. These partners include neighbourhood houses, community kitchens, after-school programs, transition houses, Indigenous organizations, and food banks, helping the GVFB meet a wide range of community needs.
Through this network, the GVFB envisions a British Columbia where everyone has access to healthy food through efficient distribution, innovation, and partnerships.
To learn more visit:β―www.foodbank.bc.caβ―β―Β
GVFB Media Contact:Β JaimieΒ Ochrey, Communications Officer,Β jaimieo@foodbank.bc.ca, 778.879.6907Β
