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Find a Food Bank in your community. Enter your city to find your nearst food bank. Find a Food Bank To find a member food bank in your community click on the map for the locations or check by city. No food bank in your community? Check with the nearest location to you. Sometimes our rural members have additional depots in nearby communities too.

Contact Us Tel: 604-498-1798 Toll free: 1-855-498-1798 Fax: 604-498-1795 info@foodbanksbc.com Suite 302 – 12761 16th Avenue Surrey, BC V4A 1N2 Monday to Thursday 9:00 am – 4:30 pm (operating hours may vary) For media inquiries, please click here Full Name Email Write a message Submit Thank you for your message. Do you have a concern or complaint? We recognize that from time to time there may be inquiries, concerns or complaints and we believe that our stakeholders have the right to tell us about them. To share your feedback please contact the Food Banks BC office by calling or filling out the form above. Alternatively, you can contact the Food Banks C anada Customer Experience Hotline at 1.877.280.0329 or EMAIL Click here to read the Food Banks BC Complaints Policy.

We recognize that from time to time there may be inquiries, concerns or complaints and we believe that our stakeholders have the right to tell us about them. To share your feedback please contact the Food Banks BC office by calling or filling out the form above. Alternatively, you can contact the Food Banks Canada Customer Experience Hotline at 1.877.280.0329 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. Food Banks BC will not retaliate against individuals who make good-faith complaints. 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.

Today, hundreds of food banks and hunger relief operations are providing services to hundreds of thousands of families and individuals on a regular basis. Impact Report 2023-2024 In a year that broke records for the demand on BC's food banking system, Food Banks BC expanded its reach and resources to more agencies and British Columbians than ever before. Download our Impact Report to learn more Download PDF Donate State of Hunger in BC The resonating impact of COVID-19 and the cost of living crisis have had devastating consequences on the household budgets of British Columbians. Record numbers of people have turned to food banks over the past year. In March 2024, we achieved an unwelcome milestone. For the first time, our members served over 100,000 unique individuals in a single month. It is clear to see how creating dignified access to food, reducing food insecurity, and strengthening our food systems need to be prioritized. Poverty is at the root of food insecurity and BC’s poverty rate is substantially higher than the national average (11.6% compared to 9.9%). All levels of government have a crucial role to play in addressing poverty. In the absence of policies and supports that help people out of poverty, we will continue to see the need for food banks in BC and across Canada. Our evolution as a charity has resulted in significant growth in our profile, impact, and reach. Much of this work is possible due to the incredible support we receive from our donors and partners. Thank you. We are also very grateful to the Food Banks BC staff team, the Board of Directors, and the many hunger relief organizations that support people in need in BC. Click here to read more At the beginning of 2024, we changed our mission: To Alleviate Hunger Today and to Prevent Hunger Tomorrow for All British Columbians. Did you know? Over $6 billion dollars of food is wasted in BC every year. This is healthy food that is sent to landfill sites when it could be redirected to feed hungry families. Over 100,000 people access our member food banks every month. 1 out of 3 One in every three clients is a child. 1 out of 10 More than one in ten clients are seniors. Income is insufficient Most clients are employed, but their income is insufficient. 107 members Food Banks BC's 107 food bank members support over a thousand hunger relief programs. + 5.4% food costs The price of food increased by 5.4% in BC (national average of 5%). Donations are declining Donations have dropped across the province. Our Programs in Action The Perishable Food Refrigeration Grant The unnecessary loss of consumable food is a critical issue. Over $6 billion of food is wasted in BC every year when much could be redirected to feed hungry families. The final round of the Perishable Refrigeration Grant was launched in 2023. This allowed our members to purchase equipment that would significantly increase our network's capacity to accept and store more perishable food, and get more fresh and healthy food onto the tables of British Columbians. This has helped reduce waste and get more fresh and healthy food onto the tables of British Columbians. Emergency Food Support In 2021, Food Banks BC partnered with the Salvation Army, Associated Grocers, and Gordon Food Services to coordinate the delivery of food into the Lytton region in response to the devastating wildfires in 2021. We also flew food, water, and other urgently needed supplies into isolated, flooded communities in partnership with Helicopters Without Borders, to ensure basic needs were met. The work to support Lytton continues to this day. Additionally, a large volume of food was shipped to the Ulkatcho First Nation this past year. Last summer’s wildfires destroyed much of the local traditional hunting grounds. The Resilient North This project, delivered in partnership with the Public Health Association of BC (PHABC), set out to understand the opportunities and barriers regarding food access in northern BC. The project research phase is complete, and our commitment to focusing on the north of the province has continued to gather momentum. Soon, we will have an even deeper understanding of how we are helping shape the future of dignified food access and enhanced food security in BC. School Nutrition Pilot Program Photo provided by bcaitc.ca Did you know that one in three food bank clients is a child ? We currently have two school meals pilot programs, operating in partnership with BC Agriculture in the Classroom, and Flourish School Meals. These pilot programs have contributed enormously to giving kids in BC schools access to healthy, nutritious food. They will also inform the development of effective, cost-efficient school meals programs. Through the provision of adequate, nutritious food for kids in schools, it is our hope that we can start to see a reduction in the number of families and children who rely on food bank services, and reduce the strain on our network. 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 non-member, charitable agencies providing hunger relief services in BC communities. This funding is available as a grant that supports the operating costs of helping people who are facing hunger and food insecurity. This past year, the Agency Relief Fund distributed $2.3 million. Interested in learning more about Food Banks BC programs, and our vision for next year? Read our full 2023-2024 Impact Report. Thanks to You, Our Partners and Supporters 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. Together, we are addressing hunger and food insecurity in BC. Donate Funding Partner Major Food Banks BC and Member Campaign Partners Food + Freight Partners Donor Partners Acosta Canada Corp Aheer Transportation Ltd. Aqueduct Foundation BC Cattlemen's Association Camosun Biotechnology Inc. Campbell Company of Canada Complete Purchasing Services Diageo Canada Easy Energy Inc. Ecofish Research Ltd. EcoLogic Consultants Ltd. Enterprise Holdings Foundation Gott for Good Ionica Inc. Lafarge Maple Leaf Centre for Food Security Merit Kitchens (2002) Ltd. Mission Hill Family Estate Molson Coors Parrish & Heimbecker Limited Pattison Food Group Ltd. Provincial Employees Community Services Fund Restoration Lands Inc. Save On Foods Sobeys Inc. Teck Resources Limited Telus Corporation The Faculty & Staff Association at University of Fraser Valley The Tenaquip Foundation Tourmaline Oil Toyota Canada Transoft Solutions Inc. Vancouver Foundation Varsteel Vitalus Nutrition Inc. Voth Developments Ltd. Waypoint Insurance Western Rice Mills

With food insecurity on the rise, we’ve seen another year of record-breaking demand for BC’s hunger relief services. Annual Report 2024-2025 With food insecurity on the rise, we’ve seen another year of record-breaking demand for BC’s hunger relief services. Through it all, Food Banks BC and our network of member food banks across the province have remained steadfast and committed to our collective causes: to address immediate hunger, and to end the need for charitable food support. Download our Annual Report to learn more. Download PDF Donate At Food Banks BC, transparency, accountability, and trust are at the heart of everything we do. Our annual reporting is more than just a regulatory requirement — it’s a reflection of who we are and what we stand for. Annual reports provide a clear, honest picture of our operations, finances, and outcomes over the past year. By sharing how we’ve put funds to use, where resources have gone, and the impact of our work, we ensure that our generous supporters, donors, and members know their contributions are making a real difference. This level of accountability is essential for building and maintaining strong relationships with the public and our partners. We invite you to explore our latest annual report and see the difference we’ve made — together. Click here to read more Past Reports 2023-2024 Impact Report Financials At Food Banks BC, we are committed to the highest standards of financial transparency and accountability. Each year, we undergo an independent audit of our financial statements to ensure accuracy, integrity, and responsible stewardship of the resources entrusted to us. These audited financials provide a clear and trusted picture of how funds are managed and allocated in support of our mission. To access our T3010, please visit the CRA’s website here Click here to download our latest statements Past Financial Statements 2024 Financial Statements 2023 Financial Statements 2022 Financial Statements 2021 Financial Statements 2020 Financial Statements Thanks to You, Our Partners and Supporters 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. Together, we are addressing hunger and food insecurity in BC. Donate

Join us and help make the season kind by supporting local food banks and their communities! Thank you for your generous support of food banks in BC.

Overwhelmed food banks can no longer compensate for systemic gaps. There has been a 79% increase in the number of visits to BC food banks since 2019. Food Banks BC Hunger Report 2025 Food insecurity is at a record high in British Columbia, with food bank usage soaring to unprecedented levels. This crisis is not a result of personal failure but of systemic issues: poverty and a frayed social safety net. Read the Hunger Report Hunger in British Columbia Overwhelmed food banks can no longer compensate for systemic gaps. British Columbia is experiencing an affordability crisis, with an increasing number of BC households unable to cover the cost of essential needs. Increased costs are also affecting BC's charitable hunger relief sector, with many food banks reaching their capacity to meet the demand. Many food banks reported shortages of food and donations, forcing them to purchase more food, place limits on how much food they can distribute, or change how often their clients can pick up food. We've seen a 79% increase in the number of visits to BC food banks since 2019. Individuals Served & Number of Visits in March 2025 This graph depicts the number of individuals served and the number of visits made to BC food banks during the months of March from 2019 to 2025, excluding 2020. Although the majority of BC's food banks reported an annual increase in the number of individual clients served, there was a 1% decrease in the overall number of visits to food banks over the same period. This is a lack of capacity, not need, as many food banks have reported that they have reduced the frequency of their services to sustain demand. Source: Food Banks Canada 2025 HungerCount. Food Bank Use in BC: Key Findings “We have not had to close our doors completely yet, but we have run out of fresh products and have had to give clients the choice of taking a non-perishable only hamper today or returning at another time." — Hope Food Resource Centre While many of those experiencing food insecurity turn to family and friends for help, choose to go without some essentials, or use food banks intermittently, our data on the 113,606 individuals that received support from BC food banks in March 2025 gives us a glimpse into the picture of hunger in our province. 1.3 million or 24.4% of British Columbians are experiencing food insecurity. 113,606 individuals used a BC food bank in March of 2025, a 9% increase over 2024, and a 44% surge since before the COVID-19 pandemic. 33,000 children received food from BC food banks, 31% of all clients. Since 2019, the HungerCount data shows not only substantial increases in the number of individuals and visits, but also a growing share of families and employed clients. With 1.3 million out of 5.7 million British Columbians missing meals, eating less, and worrying about where their next meal will come from, there are far too many of our neighbours facing impossible choices for themselves and their families. Digging into the Demographics Analysing the identity, income sources, housing situations and reasons for accessing food banks helps us to understand where our social safety net is falling short of protecting population groups disproportionately impacted by poverty. Identity The 2025 HungerCount shows an annual increase in the number of racialized community members and immigrants or refugees; 9% and 4% increases respectively. Accounting for a third of all clients, children continue to be concerningly overrepresented at BC's food banks. Income The number of people with employment income that are accessing BC food banks has more than doubled since 2019, making up the highest proportion of food bank client income sources. Regional variations highlight the intricate relationship between local economies, housing costs, and employment — a relationship too complex to explain fully with available data, but strongly linked to broader trends in affordability and economic opportunity across the province. Housing Type Market rental housing remains the most common housing type for BC food bank clients, making up 75% of clients' housing. In 2025, we continue to see an increase in the number of homeowners, climbing 1.4% to 8.7% of clients, and a doubling of the proportion of emergency and youth shelter users to 4%. Reasons for Accessing a Food Bank The cost of food has emerged as the leading cause of food bank visits in BC, with inadequate income from work and cost of housing cited as other primary drivers of food bank use in BC. The average Canadian household is predicted to spend $800 more on groceries in 2025 than in 2024, and we've seen a 31.7% rise in the cost of food in BC since January 2019. “The rise in food bank use is no longer limited to the unemployed or unhoused. Increasingly, it’s workers who are turning to these services." — Living Wage for Families BC (2025) Managing the Demand "One thing that continues to stand out is that the increase in client usage has made everything at our food bank significantly more complex." — Kimberley Helping Hands Food Bank Food banks are facing a dual crisis: a surge in demand coinciding with a sharp decline in support. According to a Food Banks Canada network survey, 11% of BC food banks have turned clients away because they have run out of food, and 81% of food banks reported the cost of food as a challenge for their food procurement, compounded with a decrease in monetary donations. Most food banks operate with minimal or no paid staff , relying heavily on volunteers for daily operations. With scarce resources stretched to a breaking point, many are struggling to maintain their current level of service. Despite being stretched to their limits, and with no core funding, food banks are responding with ingenuity. Their deep commitment to community is fueling new efforts to pool resources and connect clients with supports that foster economic resilience. Collaboration in Action As food insecurity rises, so too does the number of organizations fighting it. Yet, this very success creates a new challenge: more groups are now vying for the same finite pool of donations and volunteers. Rather than fragmenting their efforts, BC’s food banks are leaning into the adage that we are “stronger together.” A powerful wave of collaboration is building, with formal and informal networks emerging across the province to ensure help reaches those who need it most. Going Beyond Food: Off-ramping Clients Food banks are innovating by becoming community hubs. In many small BC communities, they are the primary service provider for low-income households, naturally evolving into central locations for integrated social supports. These now often include employment, immigration, and social services. These formal and informal partnerships are vital, co-locating essential supports directly within a trusted community environment to help people navigate poverty. Policy Recommendations Achieving a hunger-free province is possible. The data from food bank usage helps inform the strategic government investments we need to see to meet this goal. While food banks are working tirelessly to meet the day-to-day food needs of their communities, they are not a solution to food insecurity. Poverty and food insecurity carry economic, social, and ethical costs to society. Research has shown that government has the power and the obligation to address poverty through policy. To this end, Food Banks BC, in alignment with the BC Poverty Reduction Coalition, proposes four pillars for policy action. Build community food security: Strengthen local food systems and infrastructure Support municipal and community capacity building Ensure stable and inclusive funding for nonprofit food organizations Improve household incomes: Strengthen income and disability supports Advance wage equity Build a plan to enact a Basic Income Guarantee Commit to expanding funding for universal food programs in all public schools Support and fund the creation of an Indigenous Poverty Reduction Strategy Support Indigenous food sovereignty: Recognize and uphold Indigenous food sovereignty Advance reconciliation through education and data Increase funding and support for Indigenous food initiatives Provide provincial governance and national leadership: Legislate a provincial target to reduce food insecurity rates by 50% by 2030 Establish a Cabinet Working Group, a Parliamentary Secretary for Food Security, and a multifaceted Food Security Secretariat Advocate for reform at the federal level Food banks demonstrate incredible resilience every day, but charity alone cannot solve this systemic crisis. The good news is that we have a proven solution: purposeful government policy. "Strengthening and rebuilding the safety net — reinforcing those ropes of support — will restore hope and provide people with the stability they need to move forward." — Central Okanagan Food Bank One in four British Columbians are facing food insecurity, and a third of them are children. Women, Indigenous and racialized communities, newcomers, and people with disabilities are disproportionately affected. History shows us that targeted investment can, and has, driven down poverty and food insecurity. We can achieve this again, by championing policies that build food security, ensure adequate household incomes, support Indigenous food sovereignty, and provide governance and national leadership. Read the Hunger Report Together we can create a different future for British Columbia Food Banks BC and our members are striving toward an end to hunger and food insecurity. Your support helps us in our efforts to alleviate hunger today and prevent hunger tomorrow for ALL British Columbians. Donate Interested in learning more about the state of hunger in British Columbia? Read our full 2025 Hunger Report.

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

The Full Cupboard, Island Savings community-based signature program,to raise food, funds and awareness about the critical issue of hunger in the communities. The Full Cupboard - Vancouver Island Donate Now Together, We Make a Difference At Island Savings, we believe in the power of community and the impact of sustained efforts and partnerships. By supporting The Full Cupboard, you can help us build a stronger community and reduce hunger in the Vancouver Island, Pender Island and Salt Spring Island. Since its inception in 2016, The Full Cupboard has been a community-based signature cause program. Thanks to the unwavering support of our valued members, community partners, and passionate team members, we have raised $843,830 and collected 19,158 pounds of food for our 12 food bank partners as of 2025. Every donation you make directly benefits the community where it was given. Together, we can ensure that every individual and family in our communities has a full cupboard. Donate now or visit The Full Cupboard website to learn how you can contribute. Let's work together to create a flourishing community for all.

This website was designed to conform to Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 AA. The website was last updated on October 5th, 2023. Food Banks BC Accessibility Policy At Food Banks BC, we strive to provide support and resources in a way that respects the dignity and independence of all our community members. We commit to giving people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our supports and resources and allowing them to benefit from the same services in the same place and in a similar way as other users. At Food Banks BC, a person with a disability supported by a service dog, a guide, or a support individual will be allowed to have that support resource accompany them while accessing our services. These support persons and service dogs are granted the same access as the person they are accompanying. Under no circumstances will a person with a disability and their support resource be prevented from accessing our services and resources. When a barrier to accessing our support and resources arises, Food Banks BC takes a proactive stance. We actively seek alternative ways to ensure access, encouraging individuals to communicate their specific needs. If there's uncertainty about accessing our services and resources, please reach out to us at info@foodbanksbc.com or 604-498-1798. At Food Banks BC, we celebrate differences and honour individuals’ experiences. We are committed to providing regular education and resources on accessibility and equity, ensuring that our staff and community members are always informed and equipped to promote inclusivity. We also strive to use inclusive language in our verbal and written communication. We encourage our member food banks to: 1. Provide spaces where people are treated with dignity. 2. Celebrate differences. 3. Center accessibility needs of their employees, volunteers, and clients. Accessibility is the work we do to ensure people with disabilities can access our services equally with others. It includes ways to remove barriers to access, including physical barriers, attitudes, communication, systemic, technology, and sensory considerations. Below are some examples of accessibility practices that Food Banks BC encourages our members to implement whenever possible (bearing in mind the limitations some organizations face, such as space and landlord restrictions). Physical Accessibility Practices • Ensuring an area where a HandyDart vehicle or accessible taxi can safely drop someone off. • Ensure the entryway to the food bank is accessible to wheelchairs, walkers, and strollers. • Ensuring there is an automatic door at the entrance and washroom. • Ensuring there is designated accessible parking available. • Ensuring a rest area is available for folks with health conditions that limit their ability to stand for extended periods. • Ensuring there is an area to wait in, protected from weather and the elements. • Ensuring washrooms have grab bars. Attitude Accessibility Practices • Greeting clients as they enter the space. • Collecting client feedback. Communication Accessibility Practices • Use signage or other materials that explain how the food bank runs and what to expect. • Offering options for non-verbal communication. • Communicating changes to stakeholders. • Providing signage or information in languages other than English. Systemic Accessibility Practices • Ensuring service hours are sufficient to reduce wait times and crowding. • Communicating to stakeholders how they can request accommodation for their disability (i.e. home delivery). • Communicating the complaint process and how to report an accessibility issue. • Ensuring employees and volunteers understand and agree with The Ethical Foodbanking Code. • Ensuring food bank operators are trained in de-escalation or other methods for holding safe space. • Providing choice to clients whenever possible. • Providing cooking suggestions for items that may be unfamiliar to clients. Technology Accessibility Practices • Ensuring websites are accessible to screen readers • Ensuring website graphs and charts have text to explain them Sensory Accessibility Practices • Accommodating food restrictions • Ensuring sufficient lighting allows someone with low vision to navigate the space. • Avoiding floors and wall colour contrasting with busy patterns. 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 .

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

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.