The Greater Vancouver Food Bank was set up as temporary relief to the hunger crisis in 1982 and has grown significantly in the three decades since then.  Today the GVFB provides assistance to over 26,500 people weekly, 20% of their members are children, 19% are seniors.

The needs of this community are met through 14 food locations, community kitchens, training workshops and close to 100 community agencies located in Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and North Vancouver.  To this end the GVFB receives, purchases and distributes approximately 4.4 million pounds of food each year. 

While the GVFB continues to provide assistance to help address the immediate needs of the community, they also recognize that emergency food as a standalone is not a long-term solution. In 2013 they completed the organization’s first strategic plan and are moving beyond food in isolation into a model that helps foster a path towards self-sufficiency. This is a model rooted in education, empowerment and sustainability.
 

Non-Rotarians are welcome to attend.  Please RSVP to: RotaryBurnaby@gmail.com