The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society is a Canadian registered charity located in Vancouver, BC. Their mission is to provide food and related assistance to those in need.
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History
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society (GVFBS) was established in 1982 when organizations, church groups and concerned citizens joined together in response to the hunger crisis during the economic recession in 1981. The original purpose of the GVFBS was to be a temporary social service provider. However, because the number of those at risk of hunger has continued to increase, the GVFBS has become one of the most important non- government funded food assistance providers in Canada.
In 1982, the GVFBS assisted 200 people. Today, the GVFBS assists up to 9,000 people per week through 15 food depots located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, and the North Shore. In addition, through their support of more than 100 meal- providing agencies in these communities, up to 16,000 more people benefit each week from the GVFBS' food assistance.
Food Depots
Food depots distribute a weekly supplement of non-perishable food and fresh produce. More than 300 dedicated volunteers provide four to five hours every week handing out food to those in need. Fruitfull Offices a fruit delivery service in Vancouver donates it's left over produce to the food bank society at the end of each business day.
Kids Picks
The Kids Picks program provides preschoolers aged 18 months to 6 years with a monthly supplemental bag of healthy, ready-to-eat snacks that will ensure they receive all the essential vitamins and minerals needed for proper growth and development.
Community Angel Food Runners
The Community Angel Food Runners program is the prepared and perishable food recovery program of the GVFBS. Through the Community Angel Food Runners, quality food donated from restaurants, hotels, cafeterias and schools is delivered to meal-providing agencies. The Food Runners program saves 725,000 lbs of food yearly, creating 1.25 million meals for people in need.
Fresh Choice Kitchens
Fresh Choice Kitchens was formerly known as the Vancouver Community Kitchen Project and has been promoting and supporting community kitchens for over ten years. A community kitchen is a group of individuals who meet regularly to cook healthy, nutritious meals.
Downtown Eastside Community Kitchen Project (DECK)
The Downtown Eastside Community Kitchen Project (DECK) was established in 2000 and is a program that focuses on providing residents of single room occupancy (SRO) hotels an alternate method of obtaining food in a self-directed and dignified manner.