An Island food bank hopes the next provincial government invests in a more large-scale food recovery program.
Loaves & Fishes Food Bank is an organization focused on sourcing and delivering food to communities on Vancouver Island free of charge.
Executive Director Peter Sinclair says while it’s been a successful year in terms of donations, they are seeing an unprecedented demand for their services.
“Depending on the month, demand at our food markets is up between 25 to 35 percent,” said Sinclair. “The over 100 other non-profits, community organizations, and Indigenous communities we supply food to are looking for more food from us because they are seeing more demand.”
Sinclair says from what he’s heard and seen, the biggest issue affecting people is inflation and the price of food, which contributes to the rise in demand.
To give people the food they need, the Bank uses a Food Recovery Program, where they pick up food donated by local grocery stores seven days a week that would otherwise have to be thrown out.
With the provincial election campaign underway, Sinclair says it’s important that whoever forms the next BC government, they should be invested in a bigger food recovery program to help communities.
“Those sorts of programs are a major departure from the way food banking has been historically done,” said Sinclair. “We hope that the work of bringing that solution can continue regardless of who is in power after this election.”
