Our Impact in 2020
By Hajira Hussain in Donation on March 2, 2021
Richmond Food Bank Society – Our Impact in 2020
For Immediate Release
March 1, 2021- Richmond BC – In these times of uncertainty, one thing is for sure – Richmond Food Bank Society donors had an incredible impact in 2020. A heartfelt thanks is extended for all of the gracious donations made, especially during the holiday season. The record-breaking number of contributions received highlights the solidarity of the Richmond community in the face of unprecedented challenges.
The Richmond Food Bank pivoted in step with the rest of the world to find ways to cope when the pandemic hit. New household sign ups climbed by 49% as businesses closed and jobs were lost. While the increase in need grew, so too did donor support. An uptick in food donations during Thanksgiving and the winter holidays in tandem with our perishable food recovery initiatives allowed us to distribute over 1.6 million pounds of food in 2020. Incredibly, our number of donors more than doubled in 2020, compared to 2019.
We were able to extend our grocery distribution hours to 32 hours per week, serve three times as many households per month through our home delivery program, and adapt our operations to allow for physical distancing and extensive safety measures. This is all thanks to the many individuals, businesses, and community organizations that supported us.
Download our full report below to see more of our impacts in 2020:
Thank You to Our Donors
Special mention goes out to the following organizations for their compassionate donations of over $10,000:
- Food Banks BC
- Coast Capital Savings
- Cadillac Fairview
- Food Banks Canada
- The Dupuis Langen Group
- RONA
- Richmond Auto Mall
- Donald’s Fine Foods
- Teck Resources Ltd.
- EcoWaste Industries Ltd.
- Peterson
- Sage Foundation
- Enterprise Holdings
- Gilmore Park United Church
- School District No. 38
- Odlum Brown Ltd.
- DeJaray Financial
- TD Bank
“We are extremely grateful and humbled by the way our community came together by giving food, funds and their time. They have supported us safely through creative fundraisers, socially-distanced food drives and virtual giving events. Monetary donations allowed us to increase our offerings of fresh and packaged food and ensured efficiency in our food recovery, access and distribution processes. The response has been essential, ” says Executive Director Hajira Hussain:
“The people that we serve were struggling before the pandemic, and for many, overcoming their struggles may still be a distant reality. We just hope that the community continues with their support so we are available for people in times of their greatest need.”
The Richmond Food Bank Society provides food assistance, advocacy and related support to community members in need. Over 1,400 Richmond residents access our grocery distribution services weekly. There are 8 scheduled distributions, 6 days a week at 3 different locations throughout Richmond. As a registered charity and a non-government organization, we rely on the generosity of individuals, community organizations and businesses.
Media Contact:
Hajira Hussain-Executive Director
Richmond Food Bank Society
info@richmondfoodbank.org
