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Neighbours show solidarity during greatest time of need

By Richmond Sentinel

Published 12:00 PDT, Thu March 18, 2021

Last Updated: 12:01 PDT, Thu March 18, 2021

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In these times of uncertainty, one thing is for sure, the Richmond Food Bank Society donors had an incredible impact in 2020.

The society extends a heartfelt “thanks” for all of the gracious donations made, especially during the holiday season. The record-breaking number of contributions received highlights the solidarity of the Richmond community in the face of unprecedented challenges.

The Richmond Food Bank pivoted in step with the rest of the world to find ways to cope when the pandemic hit. New household sign ups climbed by 49 per cent as businesses closed and jobs were lost. While the increase in need grew, so too did donor support. An uptick in food donations during Thanksgiving and the winter holidays in tandem with its perishable food recovery initiatives enabled the distribution of over 1.6 million pounds of food in 2020. Incredibly, the number of donors more than doubled in 2020, compared to 2019.

“We were able to extend our grocery distribution hours to 32 hours per week, serve three times as many households per month through our home delivery program, and adapt our operations to allow for physical distancing and extensive safety measures. This is all thanks to the many individuals, businesses, and community organizations that supported us,” says executive director Hajira Hussain.

Special mention goes out to the following organizations for their compassionate donations of over $10,000:

• Food Banks BC

• Coast Capital Savings

• Cadillac Fairview

• Food Banks Canada

• Dupuis Langen Group

• RONA

• Richmond Auto Mall

• Donalds Fine Foods

• Teck Resources

• EcoWaste Industrial

• Peterson

• SAGE Foundation

• Enterprise Holdings

• Gilmore Park United Church

• School District 38

• Odlum Brown Ltd.

• DeJaray Financial

• TD Bank

“We are extremely grateful and humbled by the way our community came together by giving food, funds and their time. They have supported us safely through creative fundraisers, socially-distanced food drives and virtual giving events. Monetary donations allowed us to increase our offerings of fresh and packaged food and ensured efficiency in our food recovery, access and distribution processes. The response has been essential,” says Hussain. “The people that we serve were struggling before the pandemic, and for many, overcoming their struggles may still be a distant reality. We just hope that the community continues with their support so we are available for people in times of their greatest need.”

The Richmond Food Bank Society provides food assistance, advocacy and related support to community members in need. Over 1,400 Richmond residents access its grocery distribution services weekly. There are eight scheduled distributions, six days a week, at three different locations throughout Richmond. As a registered charity and a non-government organization, the food bank relies on the generosity of individuals, community organizations and businesses.

To make a donation, or for more information, visit www.richmondfoodbank.org.