Food bank need goes beyond Christmas

Christmas may be over, but the need for donations at the Greater Vancouver Food Bank will not be.

Clients like Jo Ann, a senior from Vancouver, rely on the service to get groceries that would otherwise be unaffordable on a limited income.

But she also considers her weekly visits a social lifeline.

“Even when you’re waiting in line, you can strike up conversations with other people,” Jo Ann said. “Sometimes those people in line don’t talk to anybody during the day. They don’t have anybody to talk to at all. So it’s like a little bit of a social community.”

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank also supports other services like the Food Pantry program at BCIT, where Giovanna Catussi coordinates things.

Giovanna Catussi, coordinator at the BCIT program, says demand is way up, especially for international students, some of whom are also supporting family.

“In 2022, we saw 1161 international students,” Catussi said. “For 2023 we are at 2414.”

The Greater Vancouver Food Bank accepts donations year round.