A Message From the Volunteer Engagement Team
Wow, that was a busy summer! We know that many of you were juggling volunteering with other plans, such as family, friends, work, and travel.
That’s why we are extremely grateful for your support, especially as the number of client visits continues to rise. Currently, we are directly supporting more than 16,000 people each month. That’s like filling the Nat Bailey Stadium two and a half times!
This month we want to learn more about you. We value your feedback and would like to hear about your volunteer experience. Please complete the anonymous 2023 Volunteer Feedback Survey by Tuesday, September 19. Paper copies are available on request. We appreciate your help as we continue to enhance the GVFB Volunteer Program.
Client Story
Due to the increased cost of living and inflation, we are seeing a dramatic increase in individuals who are food insecure. Food insecurity is multi-layered and ranges from the inability to reliably provide oneself with healthy food, to accepting a decline in food quality and nutrition. It includes skipping meals and sometimes not eating for a day or more because of lack of funds. Many clients accessing our services are children, seniors, employed individuals, and newcomers to Canada.
We’d like to introduce you to our client Talia to shed more light on her story, and why she began accessing food support at the GVFB.
“My family and I were based in Penticton prior to moving to Vancouver over a year ago. Due to an unhealthy environment and health concerns, my partner and I decided to move to Vancouver. Moving was necessary for my well-being, as Penticton wasn’t conducive to my recovery from addiction. I’ve been in recovery for a year now and my health is slowly getting better. With medical bills and the inability to work due to my health, my husband has been shouldering the biggest responsibility of taking care of our family.
We needed help, so we sought out the Greater Vancouver Food Bank in Summer 2022 to support our family. The food bank has and continues to support our family immensely, especially with our growing children and their appetites. Our experience with the food bank so far has been wonderful.
The kids love the program packs, with meat, cheese, their favorite cereal, Cheerios, and eggs. Knowing that my kids are having healthy, full meals and school lunches is all I can ask for.
The food bank enables us to meet other needs while ensuring we can still pay bills on time. The GVFB has been an invaluable support system, providing the means to maintain our family’s well-being.”
Celebrating Our Volunteer Community
How has the GVFB evolved over the last five years?
After years of rapidly growing demand and staggering numbers, our CEO David Long has one question. How did we get here?
From the growing need in our communities to the massive volume of food waste in the province, the GVFB story has evolved drastically. David recently shared his personal account of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank over the past five years with Macleans Magazine. Read the article in Maclean’s now.
Double Your Donation, Double Your Impact
We are grateful for the individuals and groups whose time and energy helped distribute 8.9 million lbs. of food last year. If you or your organization are looking for new ways to give, we offer virtual food drives, a monthly giving program and a new matching donations tool on the GVFB website.
Did you know that some companies financially match donations made by employees? Every workplace has a different donation matching policy. Search for your employer on our website and discover if you can double the impact of your donation!
We're Finally Moving!
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank is thrilled to share the new location for our Vancouver distribution operations, which is 3454 Lougheed Hwy! We have taken possession of this new long-term lease property, which is a first for the GVFB in the challenging Vancouver real estate market.
As of October 03, 2023, volunteers will be asked to go to our new Vancouver distribution location, 3454 Lougheed, for all Vancouver GVFB shifts.
- The last food distribution day from the 295 Terminal location will be Saturday, September 23rd.
- The first official distribution day at 3454 Lougheed will be Tuesday, October 03, 2023.
- We will disassemble, move, and reassemble the final pieces from Terminal to Lougheed during the September warehouse week (no food distribution).
