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Food Banks BC is pleased to recognize the amazing efforts of our partners who have stepped up to help us end hunger in British Columbia.   Our Partners We would not be able to do this work without the generous support of the many donor partners who have provided food, funds and other support as we collectively tackle hunger and food insecurity in BC. Food Banks BC is pleased to recognize the amazing efforts of our partners who have stepped up to help us end hunger in British Columbia. Partners Food + Freight Partners Campaign Partners

Food and Workplace Safety information available for your to download. Food and Workplace Safety 10 Canned Food Myths Download Client Safe Food Transportation Download Food Distribution Guidelines Download Industry Food Donations Download WorkSafe BC Food Processing Download Anti-Racism Resource Download Donation of Game Meat Download Guidelines For Food Shelf Life Download Respectful Workplace Model Download Links Food Premises Regulation Canadian Food Inspection Agency Food Safe Certification

Basics for Babies is JR Country’s partnership with the Lower Mainland Food Bank’s to assist them in providing for the tiniest in need.  Basics for Babies® Donate Now Basics for Babies® was created in 1994 when JR Country recognized a chronic shortage of baby products at Lower Mainland Food Banks. With the help of our partners , Basics for Babies® has raised over $2 million and hundreds of thousands of pounds of diapers, baby food, formula, pabulum, and other items! Helping Basics for Babies® has become a large part of JR Country listeners lives as we all make our communities stronger. Unfortunately, the need for baby necessities is greater than ever. With the current economic situation, more and more Food Bank recipients in the Lower Mainland are children. Basics for Babies® needs to continue to meet the challenge to supply Food Banks with necessary supplies to help this ever-growing population. We feel children should have the best possible start to life so that we can minimize other problems later. JR Country has partnered with Food Banks BC to ensure that all babies in the Lower Mainland get the nutrition they need. The most unique and, we think, impressive thing about Basics for Babies is not that the charity feeds and diapers babies in need (although there are no other programs like it in BC).  The most unique and impressive thing about Basics for Babies is that all administrative and operational costs are covered by JR Country and Pattison Media.  More than 99% of the donations, cash and product, go to the babies, because, after all, it’s for the babies! From the bottom of our hearts, Thank you for your donation.

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. < Back Agency Relief Fund In partnership with the Province of British Columbia’s Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction, Food Banks BC administers funding support to agencies providing hunger relief services in BC communities. The Agency Relief Fund (ARF) assists with hunger relief operations and provided $2,347,619 to agencies in 2024/25. This is the equivalent of almost 5 million meals to support British Columbians in need. The ARF was distributed to 110 member agencies and 24 non-member agencies throughout the province. Previous Next

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. < Back Emergency Food Support Food banks play a crucial role during times of emergency and natural disaster . This happens through the provision of food, water and other urgently needed supplies to evacuees, people impacted within the community, aid services and non-profits, and frontline emergency service personnel. For many years, Food Banks BC has played an active role in supporting communities impacted by major weather events. In 2024/25 we provided $1,212,792 to assist with the purchase of food and equipment that assisted with response and recovery efforts. This included the provision of 416,925 pounds to support communities still impacted by the fire that destroyed the village of Lytton in July 2021. Previous Next

Our supporting partner campaigns exemplify the transformative power of collaboration, showcasing how collective efforts can make a profound and positive impact on the communities served. We invite you to explore our partner campaigns and join us in making a difference, one partnership at a time. Together, we can build a brighter future for all. Partner Campaigns Our supporting partner campaigns exemplify the transformative power of collaboration, showcasing how collective efforts can make a profound and positive impact on the communities served. We invite you to explore our partner campaigns and join us in making a difference, one partnership at a time. Together, we can build a brighter future for all. The Full Cupboard Vancouver Island The Full Cupboard is a community-based signature cause program established by Island Savings in 2016. Donate Now The Full Cupboard Fraser Valley The Full Cupboard is a community-based signature cause program established by Envision Financial in 2013. Donate Now Feed the Valley Feed the Valley is a community-based signature cause program established by Valley First in March 2010. Donate Now Basics for Babies® Basics for Babies® was created in 1994 when JR Country recognized a chronic shortage of baby products at Lower Mainland Food Banks. Donate Now

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. < Back The Resilient North Project Since March 2022, Food Banks BC has partnered with the Public Health Association of BC on research and grants to support sustainable food systems and equitable food access in Northern BC. In 2024, Food Banks BC administered the Rapid Stimulus Grant for Food Systems Transformation (RSG), a one-time grant for non-profits in Northern BC to advance transformation in the food system. Thirty-six innovative projects across Northern BC received $794,546 in funding in June 2024. The projects through this grant will be inspiring and transformational for local and regional food systems resilience, equity, and capacity-building. Previous Next

Today, hundreds of food banks and hunger relief operations are providing services to hundreds of thousands of families and individuals on a regular basis. Food Banks BC Hunger Report 2024 Hunger is a public health emergency in Canada. In British Columbia, the rates of food insecurity have almost doubled since 2019. Food banks are a last resort for many households that are struggling to make ends meet. Canadian food banking is currently facing an unprecedented surge in demand, and BC food banks are struggling to keep up with this unsustainable situation. Read the Hunger Report Hunger in British Columbia Food banks across BC are seeing unprecedented demand. Prior to the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, food banks were experiencing a gradual downward trend in client numbers. Since 2019, the number of individuals accessing food banks has risen by 32%. Furthermore, the number of visits that households made has risen dramatically with an 81% increase from 2019 to 2024. The data on food bank usage in BC shows a clear increase in the number of households facing food insecurity over the last five years. The data also reveals that those households are visiting food banks more often, indicating a deepening in the need for charitable hunger relief support. Individuals Served & Number of Visits in March 2024 This graph depicts the number of individuals served and the number of visits made at BC Food Banks during the month of March from 2019 to 2024, excluding 2020. This continued growth in demand is occuring at a time when the sector is experiencing a general drop in donations, leaving many food banks asking the question, "How long can we sustain this?" Source: Food Banks Canada 2024 HungerCount. Implications of Food Insecurity “It’s about the we, not the I. If my neighbour is well, I am well." Islands Wellness Society Food Bank Food insecurity impacts not only the individual and household experiencing this form of deprivation, but also their community, province and country. We also know that food insecurity, poverty and health are inextricably linked. Research shows that Canadians with higher incomes are often healthier than those with lower incomes. The health impacts of food insecurity go beyond physical challenges associated with poor quality diets. Food insecurity is associated with mental health issues. Poverty and food insecurity can also severely restrict a person’s ability to participate in social life and to achieve gainful employment, creating a vicious cycle of poor physical, mental and social health. There is an intertwining of loneliness, poor health and food access challenges, with intensifying health consequences in later life. Social exclusion results in a lack of social networks that ordinarily help us to mitigate poverty through sharing resources, childcare assistance, transportation, job help and material and emotional support. The Role of Food Banks Canada has a two-tiered food system: those that can afford to shop at grocery stores, and those that can’t. Those that can’t afford to shop at grocers must relinquish choice and control while they rely on charitable food programs to meet the most basic of human needs: nourishment. Modern Canadian social constructs (or perceptions) typically position food insecurity and/or poverty as an individual problem, a personal failing, rather than as a systemic issue that we are all at risk of, to some degree. Today, food banks are serving not only those entrenched in poverty, but those who have always managed to get by until now. Food programs are commonly attached to other social services, providing opportunities to connect with support workers and programs, and increase belonging in community. Charitable food programs, including food banks, are an example of BC’s dependency on the non-profit sector to deliver essential services, bridging gaps in the public support system. Not only is the demand for services growing, but non-profits are incurring significantly higher operational expenses. Meanwhile, the number of Canadians making charitable donations has declined for the 11th year running. While innovation, creativity, compassion and hard work are at the core of charitable food programs, they have their limits. By understanding what creates food insecurity and its disproportionate representation among vulnerable people, we can then explore ways to decrease its prevalence through programs and policies, addressing the public health impacts that poverty creates for us all. “We are operating with the same amount of funding as in the past, but we have had a 300% client increase in the last year.” Mayne Island Food Bank Key Drivers of Food Insecurity in British Columbia “Since Covid ended, inflation has been the main driver, increasing visits by 40%. [...] We are seeing more homeowners and people who got out of poverty that have slid back into it.” Salvation Army Food Bank, Penticton Food insecurity is a complex issue that can be tied to a number of causes and intersections. The HungerCount data reveals that people are struggling with the cost of food and housing, and that for many, employment income is not enough to meet the cost of living. The increasing rates of food insecurity in BC can be attributed to the following recent shifts: Sharp rise in inflation Rapid interest rate hikes The lack of available housing supply, particularly affordable housing The loss of income supports like the CERB and other one-time affordability measures Significant and rapid population growth without the social infrastructure ready to absorb such an influx A slowdown in economic activity and a rising unemployment rate A deep dive into the economic, social and environmental drivers of food insecurity in BC provides clues about policy and program interventions that can address this growing crisis. Policy Recommendations The provincial government has recently enacted some policies that address food insecurity, such as providing funding for school food programs, food hubs, food banks and Indigenous food sovereignty, but more action is required. Politicians need to think beyond their 4-year term and enact long-term solutions that best support our most vulnerable citizens to meet their basic needs through navigating an adequate social support system and providing opportunities to rise out of poverty. When the National Advisory Council on Poverty asked how poverty should be reduced, the top priorities for Canadians as a whole included reducing the cost of food, strengthening health care, reducing taxes on households with low incomes, and reducing the cost of utilities. Among racialized people, the priorities were similar, but they also noted a need for upskilling and training opportunities. Food Banks BC, in alignment with recommendations offered by Food Banks Canada and the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, recommends the following areas and opportunities to address food insecurity through policy. Increase income Increase food infrastructure and support food programs Support Indigenous food sovereignty Increase equity and Inclusion “Addressing poverty requires addressing systemic inequities and revising the social norms, processes, policy decisions, and legislations that created and perpetuate the problem” Food Banks Canada Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Card gave British Columbia a D+ grade, with over 45% of British Columbians reporting that they feel worse off than last year. The current cost of living crisis requires both short-term relief measures to alleviate inflation-related struggles, and long-term strategies to decrease the demand for social supports by improving housing, economic opportunity and healthcare. Read the Hunger Report Collectively, we can work toward a future where food banks are a thing of the past It will require bold policy commitments from all levels of government, willing, action-orientated participation from the private sector and a resilient, well-resourced social services sector to move us toward a hunger-free British Columbia. We are grateful to everyone who plays a part in progressing food security, social justice and poverty reduction in BC. Donate Interested in learning more about the state of hunger in British Columbia? Read our full 2024 Hunger Report.

We believe in taking a fresh approach to the way food is distributed in our communities, resulting in innovative programs and solutions that have made BC Canada’s leader in food security.   Become a Member Food Banks BC comprises of over 100 member hunger relief agencies. Our members can be found in all corners of the province and in communities from Valemount to Vancouver or Sparwood to Surrey. As we see an increasing need for the services of food banks, Food Bank BC serves to support those who are undertaking this important work. Click below to learn more about membership. Learn More

Choose your way to make a difference. Your help is urgently needed! DONATE TO FOOD BANKS BC BC’s food banks need your support more than ever. Rising grocery prices, the housing crisis, and extreme weather events are pushing more people to rely on food banks just to get by. Demand is at an all-time high, and your donation makes a real difference. With your help, we can ensure food banks across BC have the resources they need to support their communities. Thank you for your generosity. Donate Now Your Help Is Urgently Needed Donate Securities Fundraise Now DONATE BY PHONE Call us at 604-498-1798 and we can process your donation over the phone DONATE BY EFT Please email us at info@foodbanksbc.com for banking details DONATE BY MAIL Mail your cheque to: Food Banks BC, Suite 302 – 12761 16th Avenue, Surrey, BC V4A 1N2 DONATE BY E-TRANSFER Please send to donations@foodbanksbc.com and ensure you email us your information for a tax receipt

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. < Back School Meals Program Since 2023, Food Banks BC has prioritized programming that supports greater access to healthy food in BC's schools. These pilot programs have been delivered in partnership with BC Agriculture in the Classroom (BCAITC) and the Flourish School Food Society. Since 2023, FBBC has invested $1,738,048 in school food, with $621,345 contributed in 2024/25. These funds have had a tremendous impact. BCAITC: With support from BCAITC, the program has provided 2.4 million healthy produce or dairy snacks, reaching 19,200 children, across 42 schools within six districts in BC , to date. The expansion of this pilot has the potential to reach 75+ schools and 25,000+ more students—expanding healthy, local food access and economic opportunity across BC Flourish School Food Society: Partnering with Flourish, the funds have expanded the school meals program to 1,100 servings daily to 22 schools in Victoria and Sooke, resulting in an additional 50,000 meals schools since the partnership began. Additionally, the support from Food Banks BC has enabled the launch of Flourish’s grocery program, resulting in 104,000 snack servings through various meal programs, as well as weekly grocery distributions to 30 schools . This program has the potential to sustainably provide at least 210,000 meals and 500,000 diverse and nutritious snack servings to schools each academic year. Previous Next

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. 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 the Guide