Ageless Volunteerism

Are you a senior looking to make a difference in the lives of others? Our Saturday program at the Food Bank will allow you to share your skills, learn new ones and socialize with others.

Please contact Keith for more information.

Part of the program is Expressive Art Therapy.

This program is made possible with the help of our funding partners:

     

                      

 

 

Play. Learn. Get Ready for School!

The Play. Learn. Get Ready for School program (a partnership between the Richmond Food Bank, Richmond Family Place and Tzu Chi) helps children get ready for kindergarten.  While their parents collect their groceries at the food bank, children play and create in a social environment, under the supervision of trained Early Childhood Educators, learning the social and small motor skills that give children a good start at school.

The Play. Learn. Get Ready for School activity area is located next to our popular Story Time corner, where children and parents are introduced to the joys and knowledge found in books and reading.

Play. Learn. Get Ready for School is possible through partnership with Richmond Family Place and Tzu Chi Canada Foundation and with funding from Literacy Richmond.

 

 

Tzu Chi Overview

We are very grateful for the help that Tzu Chi gives our Food Bank.

The group is active world-wide in disaster relief, education, support for the elderly, conservation and other eco-friendly programs. Tzu Chi is often the first responder to environmental disasters with members paying their own way.

At the RFB, Tzu Chi helps us package and distribute food, offers Winter Relief packages of clothing and toiletries and helps us with recycling, among other things.

Please see the PowerPoint presentation for a sampling of their work locally. (Click here for a free PowerPoint viewer.)

 

 

Nutrition Demo

Our Nutrition Recipes project develops and demonstrates simple, economical, and nutritious recipes using ingredients that are available at the Richmond Food Bank. The food bank works closely with the Richmond Fruit Tree Sharing Project at the Sharing Farm, and Tzu Chi Foundation volunteers tending Mylora Gardens, in developing recipes using the vegetables they harvest.

The project was initially funded by the Boeing Corporation and then by the Green Shield Canada Foundation as an enhancement to our Feed the body, Feed the mind program. We look forward to continuing this engaging and informing program indefinitely.

Nutrition Demo Recipes

Story Time

Story Time is held for the children every Wednesday and Thursday during food distribution if volunteers are available. Please bring your children to what is becoming a very popular event.

 

Friends of Children Dairy Program

We are very excited to be able to make fresh dairy foods part of our regular distribution to children. Thanks to a start-up grant from the Pacific Friends of Children Society, we have launched a project that provides fresh dairy products to children and nursing mothers. Each week families receive fresh milk, eggs or cheese benefiting close to 400 children every week. Additional funding is provided by the Gilmore Park Dream Auction, Richmond Chinatown Lions Club, Air Canada Jazz Helping Hands, Tzu Chi Foundation, and Kiwanis Club of Richmond.

 

 

 

This Friends of Children Dairy Program is enhanced by our Nutritious Recipes Demonstrations which gives samples of simple and economical recipes using fresh seasonally available foods - and now eggs, cheese, and milk.

 

Feed the Body, Feed the Mind at the Richmond Food Bank

Our "Feed the body, Feed the mind" nutrition and literacy program for children encourages healthy snacking along with an early introduction to books and family reading. We link nutrition with learning and development by giving children up to twelve years old healthy snack packs weekly and quality books three times a year, and by conducting Story Times for children with books chosen by Richmond Public Library. Our city dental hygienist conducts oral examinations and cleaning for pre-school children and settlement workers from SUCCESS help new immigrants integrate into their new society at the Richmond Food Bank.

The Nutritious Recipes component of our program demonstrates and gives healthy samples of simple, economical, and nutritious recipes based upon seasonal foods that are available at the food bank. These demonstrations are conducted during grocery distributions and target families and single people, including seniors cooking for one. Demonstrations incorporate foods that are in abundance at the food bank, including seasonal produce, especially locally grown organic produce from the Sharing Farm. Recipes promote seasonal eating, introduce new foods to immigrants, encourage seniors to continue cooking and eating nutritionally, and educate parents and children on the importance of healthy meals and snacks for health and development.

Periodic workshops on topics such as container growing and vermiculture enhance individuals' capacity to provide their own organic fresh vegetables and fruits. We also offer these workshops at other agencies that serve people living in poverty to attract people who need food assistance but resist using the food bank because of misunderstanding of our service and the enduring stigma of food banks as "hand-outs".

Thanks for current funding for the Healthy Snacks program go to the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation for their $7500 donation and to the Gilmore Park Dream Auction.

Thanks for funding also go to the United Way and their Success By 6 program. Success By 6 is dedicated to providing all children with a good start in life. It helps to ensure that children ages 0 to 6 develop the emotional, social, cognitive, and physical skills they need as they enter school.

Also thanks for the Richmond Sunrise Rotary Foundation who donated $1000 to extend our "Feed the body, Feed, the mind" program by buying quality books for teens.

 

Dental Hygiene Program

Dental hygienist Lisa Enns offers dental screening and fluoride varnish at the Richmond Food Bank four times a year for children from infancy to 6 years old. Lisa is also able to give each family a dental package including tooth brushes, family-size tooth paste, and dental educational materials - thanks to the Dr. Bud Sipko Memorial Fund, the Richmond Community Foundation, and the Richmond Health Department.

June 2010 - Lisa sends the following:

The Ministry of Housing and Social Development has announced changes to dental coverage for Healthy Kids Benefits.  Overall the changes help out many more families with children below the age of 19.  Here are some highlights:

• There was a $2000 increase in the income eligibility so more families will get this benefit now.  Families who pay their own MSP should be notified once their taxes are processed. Families with low income who get MSP paid by work will not be notified as they need to fill out an application for Premium Assistance first.   
• There was also an increase in treatment coverage.  Each child is now covered for $1400 every 2 years instead of $700 every year.  This means children who have not been able to get their teeth fixed because the parent portion was too much may now be able to get the work done.  If the $1400 is used up however, children will have to wait until January 2012 until new benefits start.  Children under 6 years of age in this situation can be referred to the Dental Program for routine screening if parents are not able to self-pay at their dental office.
• Unfortunately there was a decrease in prevention coverage.  Children can now only get one check per year up at their dental office.  Now more than ever, we need to help children keep their teeth clean.

           

Families can confirm it they get Healthy Kids Benefit by calling toll free 1-866-866-0800 or click here for more info on Healthy Kids Benefit.

 

Food Bank Tours

You are invited to tour the Richmond Food Bank. You're welcome to drop in Tuesdays between 10:00 and 2:00. For larger groups or other times, please call 604.271.5609 or e-mail info@richmondfoodbank.org.

Let us show you how you help your neighbours in need.