Press Releases

RFBS launches into 2021 as a Good Food Organization

RFBS launches into 2021 as a Good Food Organization

By Hajira Hussain in Press Releases on February 4, 2021


The Richmond Food Bank Society joins cross-Canada network
that uses healthy food as a tool for social change

[Richmond, BC, February 4, 2021]—The Richmond Food Bank Society is thrilled to announce it has joined Community Food Centres Canada’s Good Food Organizations (GFO) network. 

The Richmond Food Bank is one of 147 organizations joining the network in 2021, bringing the total to more than 300 across Canada and beyond. 

Good Food Organizations are diverse—they include health centres, food banks, community gardening organizations, and children’s food skills and nutrition programs. Organizations join the network based on a set of shared “good food principles,” which speak to their commitment to develop grassroots food programs that support dignity and health for people living on low incomes. CFCC provides resources to support this development, such as training, manuals, grants, and knowledge sharing opportunities.  

When an organization joins the GFO network, they add their voice to a broad national movement fighting for action on poverty—the underlying root cause of food insecurity. This means more organizations calling for progressive income policies and social programs that ensure people can live with dignity, health, and choice. 

During the pandemic, the network has focused on supporting communities to access healthy food and connect with each other safely. Kathryn Scharf, Chief Programs Officer at Community Food Centres Canada, explains:

“For the better part of a year, our partners have worked flat-out trying to meet the basic need for food in their communities. We hope to soon get back to the heart of our work—bringing people together to grow, cook, share, and advocate for good food. At the same time, the pandemic has brought a new sense of urgency for us to work together to truly address poverty. This requires policies that ensure all Canadians have enough income to meet their basic needs.” 

Quick facts about the 2021 GFO network

  • 147 new organizations joined the network this year—the biggest increase ever—bringing the total to 300+ 
  • 12 provinces and territories represented
  • 142 organizations are led by or primarily serve BIPOC community members
  • Find out more: https://cfccanada.ca/en/Our-Work/Good-Food-Organizations 

The Richmond Food Bank became a GFO because we are committed to deepening our contribution to education and advocacy initiatives that impact poverty and food security. The Richmond Food Bank Society’s mission, vision and values are very much align with CFCC’s Good Food principles. Taking action from the individual to the systemic level, believing and investing in the power of good food, creating an environment of respect and community leadership, meeting people where they’re at, and focusing on health and wellbeing are principles that the Richmond Food Bank embraces.

We look forward to learning a lot from other organizations. We already have many strong partnerships in place allowing us to increase our offerings of fresh food, and we are adding to and strengthening our programs to better serve our clients. There is much more that we can do, and we can be proud of the fact that being a Good Food Organization will strengthen our work.

Our community members, partners, donors, and volunteers are the ones who make it all possible. Thank you for all that you to do to help serve our neighbours in need, and we look forward to working with you to help create a more just and sustainable food system.

See a complete list of the Good Food Organizations here

Media inquiries: Hajira Hussain, Executive Director, The Richmond Food Bank Society – 604 271 5609 or hajira@richmondfoodbank.org

Media inquiries: Kennedy Sherwood, Community Food Centres Canada, kennedy@cfccanada.ca

The Richmond Food Bank was founded in 1983 and has continuously provided nutritious food for our neighbours in need. Our mission is to be a caring organization that provides food assistance, advocacy, and related support for community members in need.

About Community Food Centres Canada

The Good Food Organizations program is offered by Community Food Centres Canada (CFCC). Since 2012, Community Food Centres Canada has been working with partners to build and support vibrant places in low-income communities that build health, belonging, and social justice through the power of food. Find out more at www.cfccanada.ca.


About the author

Hajira Hussain

Hajira is the Richmond Food Bank's Executive Director.