Recognizing communities’ impact

Last year Greater Vancouver Food Bank volunteers donated 50,000 hours of their time. supplied

Volunteers play a key role in food distribution

On GivingTuesday, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) marks the day as an opportunity to thank its supporters – donors, volunteers and corporate partners – and recognize their impact on its work that involves distributing millions of pounds of food to people in need.

“GivingTuesday is a global movement of giving and doing good by your community. With our critical mission of providing healthy food to those in need, we have been fortunate to receive ongoing support from our communities all year round. Given the unwavering support, we use GivingTuesday as a time to thank our supporters and recognize their impact on our work,” says Greg Douglas, GVFB’s senior director of development.

Last year, GVFB distributed 8.9 million pounds of healthy food to people who rely on the charity’s services. Fifty-three per cent of the food was allocated to direct distribution in four Metro Vancouver communities – Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster and the North Shore – while the balance was distributed through a network of 150 agency partners that includes small community food banks and school nutrition programs.

But distributing the food – 68 per cent was fresh including protein, dairy and produce – would not be possible without the support of the charity’s volunteers. Last year, volunteers donated 50,000 hours of their time – the equivalent of about 25 full-time staff. The average distribution day at the Vancouver warehouse requires up to 44 volunteers, with 22 volunteers requested per shift.

These volunteers play a key role in many areas of the operation, including as fresh food sorters who help with quality control and categorizing perishable fruit, vegetables and dairy donations; distribution volunteers who do front-line work providing food to clients; and warehouse support where volunteers are engaged in day-to-day operations processing food donations and palletizing orders.

Learn more: foodbank.bc.ca/ways-to-give

To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com

To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition Countdown to GivingTuesday