Greater Vancouver Food Bank

Our Mission

Providing healthy food to those in need.

Our Vision

Healthy communities through fair and effective food systems.

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank was set up as a temporary relief to the hunger crisis in 1983 and has grown significantly in the four decades since then. Today the GVFB provides assistance to approximately 15,000 individuals monthly across Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore.

We also provide food and financial grants to 130+ Agency Partners in the greater Vancouver area. These organizations include housing agencies, women’s and children’s shelters, neighbourhood houses, community centers and after school programs. With the food we provide for them every week, they are able to support their communities with hot meals and snacks for thousands of people each week, including those who are unhoused. Through our Agency Program we can reach a broader spectrum of people in need. We are even able to share fresh food with other food banks in need around the province, when we receive massive industry donations that smaller organizations would not be able to accept.

The GVFB distributed 9.1 million pounds of food last year. Because of our size, scale, and unique position in the local food system, we have significantly greater buying power that can be achieved at the grocery store, and can double each dollar donated, maximizing the impact of our donors’ generous contributions. When we buy direct from farmers, as we often do, our buying power is frequently 10:1, and even 15:1.