BC NEWS, VICTORIA

Saturday, August 26, 2023

People struggling to put food on the table will have better, more reliable access to healthy food with $15 million in funding to Food Banks BC.

“We all want people to have the support and services they need to get healthy, nutritious food. Global inflation has hit people hard, and the rising cost of food is especially challenging,” said Sheila Malcolmson, Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction. “Our new $15 million funding will help food banks meet rising demand and fund rapid access to food in emergencies like wildfire.”

With this funding, Food Banks BC will continue to help local food banks meet rising demand, fund rapid access to food in emergency events like wildfires and help solve food-access challenges that northern communities face. Food Banks BC will also work with some school districts that need extra help designing school food programs funded by the Ministry of Education and Child Care.

“Across B.C., we are experiencing greater demand for food banks than we have seen in the 40 years since food banking began in this province,” said Dan Huang-Taylor, executive director, Food Banks BC. “This welcome and necessary funding from the Province will significantly enhance our work to support front-line hunger-relief agencies and to enhance access to food for those disproportionately impacted by poverty, including children and people living in B.C.’s northern communities.”

Food Banks BC funding is part of the historic $200-million investment announced in March 2023 to strengthen food supply throughout B.C., increase the availability of fresh food, encourage more food production in remote areas, strengthen food infrastructure, and create more regional community food hubs.

Food insecurity has increased due to inflation, supply-chain issues, and climate emergencies, such as fires and floods that interrupt food supply and production.

Written and released by: BC Government