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Kick One In is a Sysco BC initiative to help fight hunger and increase food security in our local communities. Sysco's Kick One In Program Taking Action Against Hunger Sysco's priority is to fight hunger and increase food security in the local communities we serve. With Sysco’s Kick One In program, you can donate below, with the proceeds being provided directly to eliminate hunger and make nutritious food available in your local community. This is one way that we’re connecting the world to share food and care for one another. To learn more about Sysco please visit www.sysco.ca

Food insecurity and food access 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. Hunger 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 2024 HungerCount report here . 2024 Poverty Report Cards Food Banks Canada’s 2024 Poverty Report Cards paint a devastating look at the diverse ways poverty is impacting people in every province or territory in Canada. The full series of report cards provide detailed provincial, national, and territorial analysis and statistics, along with updated interactive, digital maps to hold governments to account. Despite the scale of the crisis, most governments are not responding with the urgency that is needed. The Poverty Report Cards show that almost half of people nationally (44%) feel financially worse off compared to last year and 1 in 4 are experiencing food insecurity. Click here to see how British Columbia scored.

Food Banks BC and its members believe that everyone in BC has the right to physical and economic access, at all times, 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 agree to abide by the following set of ethics which also incorporates the Code of Ethics laid out by Food Banks Canada: ​ 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.

The Full Cupboard, Envision Financial community-based signature program,to raise food, funds and awareness about the critical issue of hunger in the communities. The Full Cupboard - Fraser Valley Together, We Make a Difference At Envision Financial, 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 Fraser Valley, Lower Mainland, and Kitimat regions. Since its inception in 2013, 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 $1,681,296 and collected 90,907 pounds of food for our 11 food bank partners as of 2024. 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.

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 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 $765,889 and collected 18,142 pounds of food for our 12 food bank partners as of 2024. 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.

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 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 $765,889 and collected 18,142 pounds of food for our 12 food bank partners as of 2024. 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 .

If you have any further questions please contact Food Banks BC directly. FAQ WHO CAN USE A FOOD BANK? Most of our members register their clients so that they can keep records of who is using their services and ensure that food is distributed equitably.  Each member is a separate charitable organization that will have unique requirements based on their own community.   Find out more about the food bank in your community. AREN’T FOOD BANKS JUST A CRUTCH? Most food banks in our province are able to supply about 3 or 4 days’ worth of food every 2 weeks for their clients.  This amount of food makes all the difference in feeding their family when the rest of their meagre budget has been used up by things like transportation, clothing and extra school costs for their children. Without this boost, many people in our communities would be hungry. IS FOOD BANKS BC A FOOD BANK? No, we represent and support the 100 food banks across our province. Did you know that close to half of these members cannot afford any paid staff; they are run completely by volunteers?   Some do not even have a computer system to keep track of clients or donations.    When you support Food Banks BC it means that we can stand in the gap for these food banks, making sure that they can be effective in their own communities helping everyone who turns to them when there is nowhere else to go. DO FOOD BANKS NEED VOLUNTEERS? Yes, volunteering is an essential part of how food banks run. Check to see if there is a food bank that might need your help or if you are interested in helping Food Banks BC, please call 604-498-1798 or email (this links to info@foodbanksbc.com email) WHAT ARE FOOD BANKS BC SHARING COUPONS? Local food banks place our BC Share coupons at check-out stands. Then every shopper has the opportunity to scan one of these to add $2.00 to their purchase.   The grocery store then keeps this money for the local food bank and they are able to use this fund to purchase the necessities for their clients.  Last year we raised close to $1 million dollars through BC Share coupons and food banks were better able to provide healthy, fresh food to their clients. WHAT DO I DO IF MY QUESTION ISN’T LISTED HERE? Ask us! You can reach us at 604-498-1798 or via email.

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.

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

Important information on our available programs and resources. Food Bank Resources Welcome to our library of resources dedicated to promoting hunger relief in a safe, dignified manner while ensuring the utmost safety for your organization. In a world where food insecurity remains a pressing concern, it is essential to equip individuals, communities, and organizations with the knowledge and tools needed to address this issue effectively. This collection of resources serves as a valuable guide, offering insights, strategies, and best practices that empower you to make a meaningful impact on hunger relief efforts, all while prioritizing the safety and dignity of those you aim to assist. Whether you are an individual volunteer, a community organization, or a larger nonprofit entity, we hope these resources will help serve as a trusted source of information in tackling hunger in your community. Food and Workplace Safety Learn more Food Bank Operations Learn more Perishable Food Recovery Learn more Emergency Preparedness Learn more Accessibility and Equity Guide Learn more

Our mission is to inspire, empower and support or members to achieve hunger-free comminites creating a hunger-free future. Financials Food Banks BC T3010 Filings on CRA View 2023 Financial Statements View 2021 Financial Statements View 2024 Financial Statements View 2022 Financial Statements View 2020 Financial Statements View