Food bank donations falling short
Only 60 per cent of December’s goal has been reached during ‘difficult’ month for families
With just over a week left in December, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank has only reached 60 per cent of its fundraising goal for the month.
As far as food donations go, food bank CEO Aart Schuurman Hess said the shelves are filling up after many seasonal food drives at schools, radio stations, businesses and other places.
Cash donations go further than food donations because the food bank can purchase about $3 of food for every $1 that is donated.
“Of course, we are very thankful for any non-perishable food items; however, cash does allow us to buy products when we need them and at excellent prices,” Schuurman Hess said. “Working with farmers means we’re even bypassing the wholesalers.”
He emphasized that the food bank strives to provide people with local, fresh and wholesome foods.
“I can only remind people when they donate items to donate wholesome items, such as whole-grain pasta, canned fish or beans and tomato sauce — things that a person can use to make a meal,” Schuurman Hess said.
One way people can help is through a virtual food drive, which is a challenge found on the food bank’s website. Different departments in a company can compete to see who can raise the most money toward healthy food to be purchased by the food bank.
The most-wanted items at the food bank, besides cash donations, are canned fish or meats, canned beans, including kidney and black beans, chickpeas, 100-per-cent nut butters, pasta and rice, canned vegetables, pasta sauces, canned fruit packed in its own juice or water, whole-grain breakfast cereals and hearty soups, stews and chili.
The food bank’s goal is to raise $1.9 million to buy food throughout the year, Schuurman Hess said. More than 26,500 people use the Greater Vancouver Food Bank each week and it serves people in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, North Vancouver and West Vancouver.
“It’s a very busy time at the food bank. I’m very thankful for all of the support we get from our community,” Schuurman Hess said. “This is a difficult time for many people.”
The Greater Vancouver Food Bank serves a smaller percentage of children than other food banks in B.C. at 20 per cent versus 35 per cent across the province. But it serves a higher percentage of seniors at 19 per cent versus less than 10 per cent across the province.
“The conclusion I draw is that a lot of families have left our area because of the high housing cost,” Schuurman Hess said.
People can donate online, by mail or in person to the Greater Vancouver Food Bank at 1150 Raymur Ave., Schuurman Hess said. They are open every weekday over the holidays, except Boxing Day.