Season of Giving: Greater Vancouver Food Bank Delivers 7,000+ lbs. of Food and Essentials to Royal Roads University
December 2nd, Burnaby BC: The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) is proud to partner with Royal Roads University (RRU), delivering more than 7,000 lbs. of food and essential non-food items on the university’s first-ever Giving Day. As part of its focus on expanding partnerships, the GVFB now supports more than 160 local and provincial agency partners through their food programming.
This first delivery to Royal Roads University included non-food essentials such as soap, shampoo, and toilet paper, as well as a healthy mix of dry goods and refrigerated items like butter, eggs, and milk. The donation also included lentils and oats from the GVFB’s recent food exchange with the Regina Food Bank, a Saskatchewan surplus that underscores that food is abundant, but must be properly distributed to reach those who need it most.
“At the GVFB we know there is no shortage of food. Our work across BC has focused on distributing fresh, high-quality foods to partners who rely on that support. Being able to equip Royal Roads with the infrastructure to provide students with essentials like eggs, milk, and cheese means a great deal to us. We recognize that students who have access to nutrient-dense foods are better positioned to excel in their studies. This donation marks the beginning of what we believe will be a meaningful and long-standing partnership between the GVFB and Royal Roads. We’re proud to be fueling the next generation of leaders.” David Long, CEO of Greater Vancouver Food Bank
To help RRU safely receive and store perishable foods, the GVFB also gifted a 38-cu. ft. fridge, enabling the university to offer items such as eggs and milk to students. Access to these nutrient-rich foods supports students’ health and helps sustain their success in their programs. In addition, RRU received baby formula and diapers, providing extra support for students with infants and young children. Reducing the stress of affording these essentials allows students to refocus on their studies and families, knowing they can ask for help.
“We are honored to collaborate with the Greater Vancouver Food Bank on this initiative. Their generosity and commitment to community well-being make a real difference for our students. Innovative partnerships like this remind us that when we work together, we can create meaningful impact and share abundance where it’s needed most.” Philip Steenkamp, President and Vice-Chancellor of Royal Roads University.
In addition to more than $18,000 in in-kind donations, the GVFB presented Royal Roads University with a $5,000 cheque to further support its food programming. To extend the impact even further, RRU also received a second $5,000 cheque to present to the Goldstream Food Bank in Victoria, an organization that has supported Royal Roads students in the past.
As part of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s vision of a British Columbia where everyone has access to healthy food through distribution, innovation, and partnerships, collaborations like this bring that vision to life by sharing abundance across communities.
To read the GVFB’s latest impact and strategic plan, please visit: About Us | Greater Vancouver Food Bank
About the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB): The Greater Vancouver Food Bank is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide healthy food to those in need. The GVFB provides support through direct distribution to those in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore, as well as through 160+ agency partners both locally and provincially. Through this model, the GVFB envisions a British Columbia where everyone has access to healthy food through efficient distribution, innovation and partnerships.
To learn more visit: www.foodbank.bc.ca
Media Contact for Greater Vancouver Food Bank:
Jaimie Ochrey, Communications Officer, jaimieo@foodbank.bc.ca
Media Contact for Royal Roads University:
Jennifer Rathwell, Communications Manager, Jennifer.rathwell@royalroads.ca
