The federal government is providing $5 million to help Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank build a new distribution warehouse to support food banks across Vancouver Island and coastal B.C.
The City of Nanaimo-based organization plans to use the money from Pacific Economic Development Canada, known as PacifiCan, to establish a central food recovery and distribution facility in Nanaimo.
The new warehouse will increase storage capacity, accept larger donations and allow the group to send more food to remote communities, the government said in a news release.
“Vancouver Island is home to dedicated leaders and organizations working hard to ensure families have access to healthy, reliable food. By supporting community resources like Loaves and Fishes, PacifiCan is helping ease everyday pressures for British Columbians and strengthening the resilience of communities across the region. This investment makes life more affordable today while building a stronger foundation for the future,” said Gregor Robertson, minister of housing and infrastructure and minister responsible for PacifiCan, in the release.
The release said Loaves and Fishes serves more than 40 communities from Victoria to Haida Gwaii by collecting surplus food from grocers and wholesalers and redistributing it to schools, households and partner organizations.
“PacifiCan’s investment enables Loaves and Fishes to scale what we do best: recover food that would otherwise be wasted and deliver it efficiently to the communities that need it most. This new facility will significantly strengthen food security across Vancouver Island and coastal B.C., particularly for remote and underserved communities,” said Peter Sinclair, executive director of Loaves and Fishes
