Search Results

Support food banks The demand for food banks has never been greater than it is today. We need your ongoing support! Donate Who we are and what we do Food Banks BC is the provincial association of food banks. Our membership is comprised of 107 hunger relief agencies throughout British Columbia. We support our members and other agencies through the provision of resources that assist their efforts to tackle hunger in communities they represent. ​ Our vision is a hunger free British Columbia. Learn more Did you know? 124,000 to 195,000 Food bank visits have increased by 57% since 2019 30% of all food bank users in BC are children. 1 out of every 3 food bank users is a child +20% The number of seniors accessing food banks has increased in the past 2 years -30% Donations have dropped across the province

The Full Cupboard Vancouver Island We invite you to give generously this holiday season and help us help your community! Your donation to The Full Cupboard will help communities across Vancouver Island, Pender Island and Salt Spring Island thrive. All donations made in December will be matched up to $10,000. The Full Cupboard is a community-based signature cause program established by Island Savings in 2016. Together, with our valued members, community partners and passionate staff, The Full Cupboard has raised $658,643 and 14,014 pounds of food for our food bank partners in the eleven communities where Island Savings operates. ​ Donate now or visit The Full Cupboard website for more details on how you can get involved. All food and funds raised stay in the community where they were donated. Let’s work together to ensure all children and families in our communities have a full cupboard!

Food Insecurity in BC Food banks started operating in 1981 as a temporary measure to provide relief to a small number of people experiencing financial hardship. Over 40 years on, the need for food banks in BC has never been greater than it is today. With 382,000 British Columbians living in poverty according to the Market Basket Measure, B.C. currently has the second highest poverty rate (tied with two other provinces) in the country. This number includes 43,000 children in low-income families and 36,000 seniors. The COVID-19 pandemic and the affordability crisis have had a devastating impact on the household budgets of hundreds of thousands of British Columbians. This has resulted in people turning to food banks and other hunger relief supports in record numbers. Combined with the impact of climate change in creating emergency food access and significant challenges for BC’s farmers and producers, it is clear to see how creating dignified access to food, reducing food insecurity, and strengthening our food systems have to be prioritized. Food Banks BC is committed to this work . The Hunger Count ​ Since 1997, Food Banks Canada has conducted the HungerCount, a cross-sectional, census-type survey of most food bank agencies, organizations and programs within and outside of the Food Banks Canada network. ​ The HungerCount provides a national snapshot of what’s happening on the frontlines of the country’s food banks; how many people are using the services, who’s accessing food banks, and why. This information is critical in helping us understand the trends of food bank usage and the policy recommendations that will move us towards tackling hunger and reducing food insecurity in BC. ​ Read the 2023 HungerCount report here .

< Back The Resilient North This project, delivered in partnership with the Public Health Association of BC , sets out to understand the opportunities and barriers regarding food access in northern BC by: 1. Create a comprehensive understanding of where and what communities’ needs are in terms of food access; (e.g., infrastructure, funding models, capacity, and network building) by using secondary data, including regional grant applications, the food access survey data set, literature reviews and other academic documents as well as grey literature, tools, and social media content. 2. Engage communities to further guide the project through community conversations which include focus groups, interviews, and broad stakeholder engagement. 3. Co-develop food access model(s) that address root causes of inequality experienced by northern communities (e.g. granting models that unintentionally perpetuate harm for communities, systemic barriers to food access funding/infrastructure for rural/remote and under-resourced communities, and soling that discourages broader network building). The Project research phase is nearing completion and will soon move into the next phase; using what we heard and learned we will be investing in programs and community initiatives that will support the project’s objectives of developing sustainable and dignified food access systems across northern BC, and establishing community-driven operations that reduce barriers to food access in rural, remote and indigenous communities. Previous Next

Accessibility and Equity Guide The guide is a resource for food bank operators seeking to make their food bank environments more accessible and welcoming to people with disabilities, 2SLGBTQIIA+ people, community members who identify as Black, Indigenous and People of Colour, and other equity-deserving groups. To reflect the current best practices and standards , the guide was compiled through an international literature review and interviews with BC food banks. In addition, it is accessible to PDF/UA standards, ensuring accessibility to the broadest audience possible. Download

Accessibility Statement Food Banks BC is committed to ensuring digital accessibility for people with disabilities. This website was designed to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. The website was last updated on October 5th, 2023. ​ If you encounter accessibility issues, we welcome your report. You can send the information to info@foodbanksbc.com .

Code of Ethics The Ethical Food banking Code Food Banks BC and its members believe that everyone in BC has the right to physical and economic access, a t all tim es, to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food which meets their dietary needs and food preferences. As part of this commitment, Food Banks BC and its members and associated agencies agree to abide by the following set of ethics: ​ ​​ ​ Provide food and other assistance to those needing help regardless of race, national or ethnic origin, citizenship, colour, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, income source, age, and mental or physical ability. Treat all those who access services with the utmost dignity and respect. Implement best practices in the proper and safe storage and handling of food. Respect the privacy of those served and will maintain the confidentiality of personal information. Not sell donated food. Acquire and share food in a spirit of cooperation with other food banks and food programs. Strive to make the public aware of the existence of hunger, and of the factors that contribute to it. Recognize that food banks are not a viable long-term response to hunger and devote part of their activities to reducing the need for food assistance. Represent accurately, honestly, and completely their respective mission and activities to the larger community.

Financials Food Banks BC T3010 Filings on CRA View 2022 Financial Statements View 2020 Financial Statements View 2023 Financial Statements View 2021 Financial Statements View

Our Impact Provincial Programs Food insecurity and food acce ss are complex issues. Social policy, systemic racism, climate change, geography, and colonial food systems are just a few of the contributing factors that have created this increasingly critical situation we face as a society. Food Banks BC is grateful to the Provincial Government and donors for their support in helping Food Banks BC conduct important work to alleviate hunger , particularly among people and communities that are disproportionately impacted by poverty and hunger. School Nutrition Pilot Program Learn more Emergency Food Support Learn more The Resilient North Learn more Perishable Food Refrigeration Learn more

TOP 10 MOST REQUESTED FOOD ITEMS Canned vegetables Canned fruit Canned beans (chickpeas, black beans, kidney beans) Canned tuna Peanut butter Pasta and pasta sauce Rice, oats, barley Hearty soup, stew, chili Small snack items (granola bars, fruit cups, applesauce) Toiletries (feminine hygiene products, baby diapers) Where can I donate food? ​ If you would like to connect with your community food bank to make a donation, or find out their specific needs, please go to the Find a Food Bank page to locate the food bank in your area.

Membership Benefits include: Provincial and National voice on hunger issues in BC Networking Funding (Provincial and National) Skill Building and Training Discount Buying Programs Participation in both the National and Provincial Conference & AGM National Food Sharing System (NFSS) Product received from major manufacturers by Food Banks Canada Distributed to members from four (4) hubs strategically located throughout BC Transportation assistance may be provided to rural food banks (communities with a population of less than 10,000) Affiliate membership to Food Banks Canada In order to be eligible for membership, your food bank must meet the following requirements: Focus its main activity on the collection and distribution of food to assist those that require help in their community. Be the only food bank that serves their community, city or region (please check our Find A Food Bank map for current members). Have a current Canadian Charitable Registration Number in good standing with the CRA. Pay an annual fee to Food Banks BC that is based on the number of clients served. Participate and cooperate annually with data capture for Food Banks Canada’s Hunger Count survey and other required data collection. Cooperate with all regional, provincial or national fund or food raising campaigns as required. Agree to and follow Food Bank Code of Ethics. Agree to and follow Food Banks BC’s Members’ Standard of Care. Agree to and follow any other Food Banks BC Membership Criteria which the network may require from time to time. Have been in operation for a minimum of one year. Be a community steward of food donations to share with other member food banks and local food agencies where surplus exists. If you are interested in applying for membership and meet the criteria, please contact info@foodbanksbc.com or call 604-498-1798.

Complaints Policy ​ Policy Statement This policy, guiding principles and procedures apply to complaints received by Food Banks BC about all aspects of our operations, including activities, service, staff and volunteers. It also applies to complaints received by Food Banks BC about the activities, service, staff and volunteers of our member Food Banks throughout the province. While Food Banks BC is not a regulatory or supervisory body, it is an expectation of Food Banks BC that the staff and volunteers of both Food Banks BC and Member Food Banks abide by the Food Banks BC Code of Conduct and Commitment to Ethics and will apply those standards in the resolution of complaints. Guiding Princip les All complaints will be dealt with promptly and resolved as quickly as possible. Review of complaints will be fair, impartial and respectful of all parties involved. Complaints will be directed to the person or service provider most able to directly and expeditiously address the conce rn. Complainants will be provided the basis for decisions and outcomes relating to their complaint. Complaints will be used to assist in improving service, policies and procedures. Complaints A complaint is an expression of dissatisfaction or concern about the service, action or lack of action by Food Banks BC or a Member Food Bank. Examples may include (but are not limited to); Perceived failure to deliver agreed-upon services, Failure to uphold policies and procedures, Error made by staff member or volunteer, Unfair or discourteous conduct by a staff member or volunteer. Complaints will be received from those individuals who are personally and directly affected by the action and complainants will be expected to identify themselves when bringing forward their complaint. Complaint Receipt A complaint may be received verbally (by phone or in person) or in writing (by mail or email). Any representative of Food Banks BC who receives a complaint should direct the complaint to the Executive Director who will determine the most appropriate person (which may be a Food Banks BC staff or board member, or someone external to the orga nization) to handle the complaint and redirect it to that person, letting both the recipient and the complainant know about this action undertaken. The person to whom the complaint has been directed for resolution is most fre quently the one with the specific knowledge and capacity to address the issue. It is the responsibility of the person in the food banking organization who is receiving the complaints for action to either resolve it or undertake to find a resolution from a source most able to address it. Resolution Complaints received should be acknowledged within 2 business days and if possible, staff should undertake to begin resolution within that same timeframe. Every effort should be made to resolve complaints in a timely fashion. For complaints regarding a member organization, Food Banks BC will request that the member organization provides details to Food Banks BC about how and when the complaint will be resolved. Documentation Food Banks BC will keep and maintain a complaint tracking system. At Food Banks BC basic information must be recorded immediately as the complaint is received in order to help with accuracy, accountability and understandin g of the complaint. Information recorded will include; The name of the complainant and their contact information, A brief description of complaint and source of concern, The name of the receiver of the complaint, any referrals for resolution, Outcome if determined, and Time frame. An annual summary of complaints will be presented to the Board of Directors of Food Banks BC, which will include the number, type, and disposition of the complaints received over the previous 12 months, in sufficient detail for board members to understand the overall nature and impact of complaints received.