25 years of serving Richmond in 2008

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July at the Foodbank

NEW:

• (There likely won't be updates to the site until the start of August. Please check for current event postings in the foodbank.)
• Support local farmers. Richmond Pocket Markets start July 7th.
• Food Security Issues in a Public Health Context
• Chefs to the Field, Sunday August 10 - Sample some of the best gourmet food in town. Watch as the city's top chefs use local organic ingredients, freshly harvested, and go head to head in competition to win the coveted green cuisine award. Come and support local organic growers!
• Richmond Chinatown Lions Club donates $25,000 to purchase a cooler and finish renovations at our new location.
• Friends of Children Dairy Program

The Richmond Food Bank Society strives to maintain individual and community health by providing the food security and nourishment needed to sustain health and well-being.

Volunteers distribute healthy food and groceries for free in a safe and confidential place to anyone who lives in Richmond and needs a little help.

"Food security exists when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food to meet their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life." This is the definition that Canada and 128 other countries agreed upon at the 1996 World Food Summit in Rome. All signatories agreed to halve hunger by 2015.

The Richmond Food Bank belongs to and is accredited by The Canadian Association of Food Banks and subscribes to its Code of Ethics.

This site is a place for you to:

• learn more about us
• get information about our distribution program
• increase awareness of the growing needs of the hungry people in our community
• learn how you can volunteer and donate to help end hunger in our community

We hope that you will become a regular visitor to our site.

Richmond Food Bank Facts:

• we serve over 300 households weekly -- over 700 persons; 35% children
• 15% are long-term users with multiple barriers to employment
• 55% are temporary users -- people who can work, do; this number reflects unemployment rates
• 30% are potentially self-sufficient and their ongoing concerns are health, employment and affordable housing
• cost of housing and disabilities are the primary reasons for needing food banks
• we distribute over 15,000 pounds of food each week
• we also distribute good quality surplus food that would otherwise be discarded
• in 2007 we distributed 15,344 grocery parcels as well as bulk food to other agencies that serve meals and snacks to low-income people
• We are able to distribute over $6 worth of groceries for every dollar we spend
• we have over 120 regular volunteers who provide year-round service
• we are a society and registered charity, governed by a Board of Directors.