Organizations unite to fight food insecurity, reduce waste in Vancouver

Organizations with a common goal are joining forces to make sure less food goes to waste and fewer people go hungry. Here’s how.

A newly launched charitable network in Vancouver announced its mission on Giving Tuesday: to reduce food waste and fight food insecurity.

The Vancouver Food Recovery Network, funded through a grant from the City of Vancouver, brings together a number of existing organizations with overlapping mandates: the Food Stash Foundation; Vancouver Food Runners; CityReach Care Society; and Quest Nonprofit Grocery Markets.

“We hope to serve more people who are in need — that is one of our bottom lines,” said Cheryl McManus, associate executive director at CityReach Care Society.

With the cost of living continuing to rise in Metro Vancouver, food insecurity has reached new heights, prompting collaboration among the four frontline food recovery organizations.

“This problem of food going to waste and the issue of hunger are both so real and evident—we want to be the bridge between those two,” McManus told CTV News.

Data shows that 46 per cent of food produced in Canada goes to waste, while nearly one in four households struggles to afford groceries.

The goal of the network is to reduce these alarming statistics. Together, the network diverts close to five million pounds of food each year by accepting donations from grocery stores, restaurants, and other sources. The network is set to serve 60,000 people each week.

“We truly serve all people from all backgrounds as they come forward with this need for food access,” McManus stated.

Food is distributed throughout the region, a task Simon So has been managing with CityReach Care Society since the pandemic began.“We are all fully committed to this cause,” said So.

“By providing this network, we have a robust system that we can continue to support.”