June 28th, 2022 

For Immediate Release 

 

Vancouver, BC – The Greater Vancouver Food Bank’s (GVFB) lease is running out at 295 Terminal Ave. in Vancouver. Their team of staff and volunteers sees 450 – 750+ people come through their doors 5 days a week, supporting a total of 2,500 – 3,000 lives weekly. Vancouver clients represent over 60% of their total client base which is currently over 11,000 lives supported each month – and the number of people seeking their support is climbing at an alarming pace. The GVFB is signing up 800 – 900 new clients each month right now, which is an unprecedented pace of growth for this local charity. And it has them worried. 

 

Another worry is their ongoing ability to distribute food in Vancouver. By June 2024 the GVFB will have reached the end of their existing lease. In order to ensure they can continue to distribute food they have to start their building search NOW. If they can find a lot it will take at least two years to build something with current supply chain challenges, and if it’s a renovation, that could easily take a year – IF they can find a lot. The GVFB wants to own the building because as a charity, they won’t be charged property tax as a property owner. With their current lease half of their monthly payment goes to the City of Vancouver as property tax, and there is no relief forthcoming. The GVFB is asking real estate agents, developers, land/building owners or anyone with a connection to the real estate industry to come forward and help them find a new building they can buy, or lease with a discount to compensate for having to pay property taxes.   

  

Criteria for the building:  

  • 10,000 – 12,000 sq/ft (up to 25,000 sq/ft) 
  • Truck accessible 
  • Transit-friendly, street level 

  

Quote:  

“We have great relationships with food industry partners, and we have the food. Now we need to look for a building where we can continue distributing fresh, nutritious food to our clients in Vancouver. In the past few months we have registered between 700-900 new clients each month. The need is there, and we need your help.” – David Long, CEO of the GVFB 

 

About the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) 

The GVFB is a non-profit organization with a mission to provide healthy food to those in need. The GVFB provides assistance to over 10,000 people each month through direct distribution in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore. 25% of their clients are children, and 17% are seniors. The GVFB also provides food support to 119 community agencies throughout these communities, such as housing agencies, women and children’s shelters, transition houses and after-school programs, which in turn provide meals and snacks to thousands of people each week.   

Https://foodbank.bc.ca  

 

Media Contact:  

Jodie Ou 

Communications Manager 

Greater Vancouver Food Bank 

jodieo@foodbank.bc.ca 

778-387-2666