Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society
Encyclopedia
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.
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.
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.
(SRO) hotels an alternate method of obtaining food in a self-directed and dignified manner.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
located in Vancouver, BC
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
. Their mission is to provide food and related assistance to those in need.
History
The Greater Vancouver Food BankFood bank
A food bank or foodbank is a non-profit, charitable organization that distributes mostly donated food to a wide variety of agencies that in turn feed the hungry. The largest sources of food are for-profit growers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers who in the normal course of business have...
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
Recession
In economics, a recession is a business cycle contraction, a general slowdown in economic activity. During recessions, many macroeconomic indicators vary in a similar way...
in 1981. The original purpose of the GVFBS was to be a temporary social service
Social work
Social Work is a professional and academic discipline that seeks to improve the quality of life and wellbeing of an individual, group, or community by intervening through research, policy, community organizing, direct practice, and teaching on behalf of those afflicted with poverty or any real or...
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.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 ChoiceFresh Choice
Fresh Choice is a chain of buffet-style restaurants which operate in California, Washington, and Texas under the names Fresh Choice, Fresh Plus, Fresh Choice Express, and Zoopa. The first restaurant was opened in Sunnyvale, California in 1986, and as of 2010 there are 30 locations with two new...
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 occupancySingle Room Occupancy
A single room occupancy is a multiple-tenant building that houses one or two people in individual rooms , or to the single room dwelling itself...
(SRO) hotels an alternate method of obtaining food in a self-directed and dignified manner.