Let’s ring in the new year by welcoming 10 new Community Agency Partners (CAPs) to the team – bringing up our total to 120 partnerships!
Among our new CAPs, we’re thrilled to onboard four schools including Simon Fraser University and Burnaby Central Secondary! We look forward to expanding our outreach to students and their families facing food insecurity in our communities.
Did you know that we distributed $250,000 in gift cards to struggling families through our school districts during the winter and spring of last year? As a result, thousands of families spent the holidays and Spring Break without the worry of having to come home to an empty fridge.
We are proud to introduce to you our 10 new CAPs:
Carl Rooms
Managed by Atira Property Management Inc, Carl Rooms provides housing for people who would otherwise be homeless in our communities. They are women-centred and work to protect those in vulnerable situations in the Downtown Eastside.
“Our tenants often do not have enough food. Providing food has kept emotions more regulated, provided a better sense of home and community, and brought smiling faces to our tenants when we do group cooking activities” – Mandy, Manager at Carl Rooms
Lu’ma Terminal Shelter
Managed by Lu’ma Native Housing Society, the Terminal Shelter is a newly opened homeless crisis shelter that provides 60 safe spaces with access to meals, showers, and laundry.
Simon Fraser University (SFU)
SFU has campuses in three of British Colombia’s largest cities – Vancouver, Burnaby and Surrey. Through our partnership, they will be supporting students through a food pantry accessible on-campus.
Jewish Family Services (JFS)
JFS has three pillars to meet the everchanging needs of their community: food security, older adults, and mental health. The JFS Food Bank serves individuals and families of all ages in the Jewish and non-Jewish community.
C’ow aa Housing
Previously the Ramada Vancouver Downtown Hotel, BC Housing and Lu’ma Native Housing Society acquired the building and turned it into supportive housing for those experiencing homelessness. Our partnership will help keep their essential pantry stocked with goods for their residents.
“Food is a HUGE part of Lu’ma and its programs provided to those we serve. In providing the very basics in food, we are showing folks we serve a bare and basic element of respect. Every Lu’ma supportive program has a built-in food program, and we think that no one should have to struggle to eat.” – Kevin, Nuu Chah Nulth from the Ahousaht Nation, current Director of Supportive Housing with Lu’ma Native Housing Society
The Maundy Café – Christ Church Cathedral
The Maundy is the Cathedral’s coordinated effort to harness the power of good food to build health, belonging, and reconciliation in communities affected by systems that perpetuate poverty. Since COVID-19, the Café has adapted to provide take-away meals, emergency food hampers, and grocery cards to help families in need.
Burnaby South Secondary
Burnaby South Secondary’s partnership with the GVFB will support their food education class, Free Lunch Program for students in need, Indigenous Program and Young Parents Program.
Burnaby Central Secondary
Burnaby Central Secondary’s partnership with the GVFB will support their food education class.
Burnaby North Secondary
Burnaby North Secondary’s partnership with the GVFB will support their food education class and Indigenous Student Program. Food support will also go towards their new student-led food security club.
Circle of Eagles Lodge Society (COELS)
COELS supports Indigenous Brothers and Sisters leaving federal institutions and those dislocated from society, to reintegrate into the community by providing respectful holistic services and culturally safe spaces.
A final note from us
As always, a BIG thank you to our incredible donors for making this level of community outreach possible. To see how you made a difference, watch what the students at the Native Education College, one of GVFB’s CAPs, have to say about the food support they received during the pandemic.
