The Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) has finally found a new permanent home after years of serving without a fixed location.
Situated on Lougheed Highway near Boundary Road, the new 65,000 square foot facility is a game-changer for the charity. With the capacity to provide direct food distribution to clients and support around 170 agency partners, it’s a significant step forward.
David Long, the CEO of the Greater Vancouver Food Bank, is thrilled with the new location. He mentioned, “An average day here now, we’re seeing about a thousand people a day, five days a week, come and pick up food.”
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including 19,000 cubic feet of refrigeration, the new space will allow the distribution of thousands of pounds of food weekly. Long emphasized, “We’re handing out food directly from the fridge, so we’re really making sure that everything is as fresh as possible.”
The focus is on providing fresh and nutritious food, with almost 80% of the distributed items being of that nature. Long proudly displayed some fresh tomatoes, showcasing the quality of the offerings.
In a positive move following the acquisition of the permanent location, the GVFB has introduced the ‘Fresh Start’ program. This initiative aims to connect clients with on-site third-party organizations to provide additional support services.
Long shared, “We partnered with WorkBC, immigration social services, Coast Mental Health Association. So as we get to know our clients… we can introduce them to these social services.”
This milestone was made possible through the generosity of donors and a successful capital fundraising campaign. Long emphasized that this new facility will enhance the organization’s capacity to address food insecurity and provide poverty-reduction services in the Lower Mainland.
“We’re taking a different approach, and we hope that people will take notice.”
Keyphrase: Vancouver Food Bank permanent location