Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge wraps with $250k raised

More than $250,000 has been raised for the Greater Vancouver Food Bank (GVFB) as part of this year’s Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge.

The funds were raised over the month of May by the mayors of the City of Vancouver, District of West Vancouver, City of Burnaby, City of New Westminster, and City of North Vancouver.

City of North Vancouver Mayor Linda Buchanan has been crowned this year’s winner. The GVFB says Buchanan rallied her constituents to raise $0.68 per capita for a total of $39,380, marking her third win.

The food bank explains the value per capita is determined by the amount raised divided by the municipality’s Census population data from 2021.

FILE – A Greater Vancouver Food Bank truck. The GVFB says more than $250,000 was raised as part of the 2023 Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge. (Courtesy Facebook/Greater Vancouver Food Bank)

Meanwhile, Burnaby Mayor Mike Hurley “raised the most significant sum, surpassing his goal of $70,000,” for a total of $125,313.35 raised in May ($0.50 per capita).

New Westminster Mayor Patrick Johnstone followed Hurley with $51,678.42 raised ($0.65 per capita) for the second-highest total.

After Buchanan in third, Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim raised $19,599 ($0.03 per capita), while West Vancouver Mayor Mark Sager raised $14,200 ($0.32 per capita.)

Buchanan says the fundraiser came at a critical time, with many feeling “heightened financial pressures.”

“I am incredibly proud that the City of North Vancouver has raised the most per capita, nearly $40,000! But the real winners are our neighbours who will benefit from stable access to fresh and healthy foods,” she said. “Food security is such an important topic. I want to thank everyone in the community and the many businesses who answered the call this year. You are advancing us as an even more caring and inclusive City.”

Related articles: 

• Federal grocery rebates will be issued this summer

• More Canadians facing food insecurity since 2020: Statistics Canada

• Greater Vancouver Food Bank wants people to stop buying ‘food bank hampers’ from grocery stores

The GVFB says it is now serving “a record-breaking” number of clients, with more than $16,500 people seeking support every month.

It notes that as the cost of living continues to rise, so too does the demand on organizations like the GVFB.

The 2023 Mayors’ Food Bank Challenge is proudly supported by CityNews 1130.

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