Richmond Food Bank Promotes Nutritious Food Choices

The Richmond Food Bank encourages everyone to think about nutrition and health when they make food choices. For people at the Food Bank, healthy food choices depend upon nutritious donations. This is especially important for people who face difficulties that might include low income, bad health, inadequate housing, and possibly behaviour problems - all interrelated and made worse by poor quality food.

Please make thoughtful choices when donating to the Food Bank. Choose foods that are fresh (not old) and nutritious foods that will help people with health problems. Suggestions for non-perishable donations include: peanut butter, powdered or tinned milk, iron fortified formula, juices, tinned beans, fish and meats, tinned fruits and vegetables, soups and chunky soups. Or send a donation by cheque. That allows the Food Bank to buy food as needed - including fresh fruits and vegetables - throughout the year.

Please see our donation policy.

 

To make a financial donation to the Food Bank:

Your cash donations enable us to buy the food we need when we need it. This means better nutritionally balanced food parcels, fresher food and lower storage costs. And you get a tax receipt. Each dollar donated allows us to distribute $6 worth of food.(*) You may wish to use our donation form (.doc, .pdf) or read more about the options below. As well, some large employers will match your donation. Please check with your Human Resources Department. (Note: you may need to install the PDF reader -- link at left -- to download the donation form.)

As a Gift

Let us know that your donation is meant as a gift and we will send a personalized card to the recipient letting them know of your thoughtful gift in their name.

Planned Giving

If you are considering making the Richmond Food Bank a beneficiary of your will, RRSP or RRIF, please contact your financial advisor to determine the best option for you.

RBC Dominion Security's Charitable Giving document may also be helpful.

By credit card

We are now able to accept Visa, MasterCard and American Express donations in the office or over the phone. Please call us at 604.271.5609 or e-mail info@richmondfoodbank.org and we will respond promptly with further information.

Online

We have teamed with CanadaHelps.org, a non-profit registered charity that provides an online donation service to registered charities. Your donation to The Richmond Food Bank is made through the CanadaHelps secure website in Canadian funds and an electronic tax receipt - approved by the Canadian Customs and Revenue Agency - is issued by e-mail usually within minutes of the transaction.

CanadaHelps has partnered with several Canadian banks to ensure that your online donation is secure. Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Interac cards can be used.

To find out more, click the "Donate Now" button. You may cancel the process at any time before hitting the final "Make the Donation!" button.

By cheque

Please make your cheque payable to:

Richmond Food Bank Society
100 - 5800 Cedarbridge Way
Richmond, BC V6X 2A7

Monthly donation

You may donate monthly through your Visa, Mastercard, American Express or on-line through CanadaHelps.

You may also use monthly post-dated cheques.

Please contact us and we will provide you with the necessary information: 604.271.5609 or info@richmondfoodbank.org

BC Sharing coupons

BC Sharing coupons in $2 denominations are available at participating grocery store check-out counters for shoppers to purchase.

Reference material

We have a small office library. If you have reference books for Office 2010, Windows 7, Photoshop CS5, Dreamweaver CS5 that you don't use, please consider donating them.

VanCity VISA points

VanCity VISA points can be donated -- please contact your VanCity branch.

Shoppers Optimum Points Donation

Shoppers Drug Mart allows their cardholders to transfer their Shoppers Optimum Points to the Richmond Food Bank and other registered charities.

Phones-for-Food

Run a Phones for Food collection blitz at your company.  For more information call 1-877-535-0958, extension 30.

Note: Printer cartridges are no longer accepted.

 

Making a food donation to the Food Bank

Interested in donating food but uncertain about liability risks? There are a lot of misconceptions. Please see the BC Food Donor Encouragement Act.

 

Food dropboxes are at all the following locations:

• Safeway stores
• Save-On-Foods and Drugs stores
• Marketplace IGA
• Most Richmond Community Centres

Donations may also be dropped off at 100 - 5800 Cedarbridge Way during the following hours:

• Monday - Friday 9 am to 3 pm
• Thursday 9 am to 7 pm
• Saturday 10 am to 2 pm

Our most needed items are:

• canned meat
• canned milk
• peanut butter, especially small sizes
• chunky soups
• canned fish
• tinned beans or pasta in sauce & meats
• canned fruits & vegetables
• pasta
• macaroni & cheese dinners
• tomato products
• cereal
• instant noodles
• rice
• sugar
• toilet rolls and paper towels
• feminine hygiene and other personal care products
• large diapers, sizes 4,5,6
• baby formula (we have an abundance of jarred baby food)
• cleaning supplies
• office supplies
• paper bags - #58-6 Checkstand or similar (about 12x23+7)
• used plastic bags with handles (the kind you get at the grocery counter)

Planning a food drive?

We can provide posters, apple boxes, coin tins. We appreciate delivery but can arrange pick-up if needed. Our donation form (.doc, .pdf) may be printed for those preferring to make a tax-deductible monetary donation.

Looking for fundraising ideas?

Here are some fundraising ideas that others have had for us. And also many other do-it-yourself ideas.

Donating non-food items

The Richmond Shares website provides a place to donate furniture, appliances and other goods to those in need. Only qualified agencies such as the food bank can put potential recipients in touch with the donors. Homestart Foundation also accepts your lightly used furniture.

Realtors throughout Greater Vancouver collect blankets, tarps, sleeping bags, winter clothes and coats each year for distribution to shelters and charities. See the RealtorsCare website for more information.

Empty bottle and can recycling

Organizations can collect recyclables for RFB to convert to cash. Please call us for pickup. Thanks to our current participants: Gateway Theatre, Cartwheels, McKesson and HireDesk.

As well, the Steveston Bottle Depot (map) will accept your recyclable cans and tins. Just mention that it's for the Richmond Food Bank when you drop them off and they'll do the sorting for you as a donation to us.

We receive no government funding and depend on the generosity of the community to operate our service. We are a registered charity - Federal Tax Number BN 11907 8228 RR0001 - and issue tax receipts for monetary donations.

For a list of registered charities, see the Canada Revenue Agency’s Charities Listings or call the CRA Client Service Section at 1-800-267-2384.

The Richmond Food Bank does not solicit door-to-door or by telephone.