Food Bank

Brandon Caben with the Victoria Breakers Baseball Club helps load groceries into a trolley recently at the Goldstream Food Bank. The new club aims to help make youth better baseball players and citizens through community service. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

New Victoria baseball club lends helping hand at Goldstream Food Bank

Victoria Breakers aims to develop youth into better players and citizens

Brandon Caben with the Victoria Breakers Baseball Club helps load groceries into a trolley recently at the Goldstream Food Bank. The new club aims to help make youth better baseball players and citizens through community service. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Santa Claus makes his way through Langford along side his friends at Langford Fire Rescue Christmas Eve. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

Thousands raised for Goldstream Food Bank thanks to Santa and West Shore fire departments

The annual Santa runs were a success once again this year despite the pandemic and some poor weather

Santa Claus makes his way through Langford along side his friends at Langford Fire Rescue Christmas Eve. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
Deputy fire chief Mike Harman of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department helps unload a trailer of food collected during the Sidney portion of the Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive on Dec. 11. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)

Firefighters food drive breaks records thanks to Saanich Peninsula donors

Christmas charity event returns with a bang after being cancelled in 2020

Deputy fire chief Mike Harman of the Sidney Volunteer Fire Department helps unload a trailer of food collected during the Sidney portion of the Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive on Dec. 11. (Wolf Depner/News Staff)
Rainbow Kitchen volunteer Bonnie prepares Dec. 8's meals. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Esquimalt food bank straining under unprecedented, pandemic-fueled ‘tidal wave’

Victoria’s Rainbow Kitchen is seeing new clients every day, including those who used to donate

Rainbow Kitchen volunteer Bonnie prepares Dec. 8's meals. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Real estate agent Darren Day has held three food bank fundraisers for the Goldstream Food Bank, including the latest earlier this month outside Quality Foods in Langford. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)

Realtor knows Langford community will support the Goldstream Food Bank

Darren Day hosts third food back fundraiser collecting food and cash for the cause

Real estate agent Darren Day has held three food bank fundraisers for the Goldstream Food Bank, including the latest earlier this month outside Quality Foods in Langford. (Bailey Moreton/News Staff)
Santa Claus and firefighters with the Colwood Fire Department travel through the community during a previous Santa Go Round. Santa is set to return to the West Shore this year, starting in View Royal on Dec. 11. (Black Press Media file photo)

Santa Go Round returns to the West Shore this month

Santa joins View Royal firefighters Saturday (Dec. 11) spreading cheer, collecting food donations

Santa Claus and firefighters with the Colwood Fire Department travel through the community during a previous Santa Go Round. Santa is set to return to the West Shore this year, starting in View Royal on Dec. 11. (Black Press Media file photo)
The West Shore RCMP will be in front of the Langford Real Canadian Super Store location on Sunday collecting food donations for the Goldstream Food Bank. (West Shore RCMP/Twitter)

West Shore RCMP aims to fill canoe, police cruisers with food this weekend

All food collected in front of the Langford Superstore will be donated to the Goldstream Food Bank

The West Shore RCMP will be in front of the Langford Real Canadian Super Store location on Sunday collecting food donations for the Goldstream Food Bank. (West Shore RCMP/Twitter)
Goldstream Food Bank volunteers, pictured, rely on charitable initiatives like Love Local BC for their monthly food hamper program. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Greater Victoria businesses, food bank included in provincial fundraiser

Goldstream Food Bank one of the recipients of BCLC initiative

Goldstream Food Bank volunteers, pictured, rely on charitable initiatives like Love Local BC for their monthly food hamper program. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Saanich Peninsula firefighters join staff from the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank in showing off donations to the Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive in 2019. The food drive returns next month after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Tyson Elder)

Sidney, North Saanich, Central Saanich firefighters unite to douse hunger in annual food drive

Modified version of Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive set to return

Saanich Peninsula firefighters join staff from the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank in showing off donations to the Peninsula Firefighters Christmas Food Drive in 2019. The food drive returns next month after being cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19. (Photo courtesy Tyson Elder)
Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, expects the organization to hand out up to 400 Christmas hampers this year. (Black Press Media file photo) Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, expects the organization to hand out up to 400 Christmas hampers this year. (Black Press Media file photo)

Rising demand, prices; food supply chain disruptions impact Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank

‘If you won’t eat it, don’t give it to the food bank,’ food bank executive director says

Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, expects the organization to hand out up to 400 Christmas hampers this year. (Black Press Media file photo) Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, expects the organization to hand out up to 400 Christmas hampers this year. (Black Press Media file photo)
Goldstream Food Bank Society volunteer Petra Benbow, left, president Gayle Ireland and volunteer Cynthia Fizzard show off a fully loaded shopping cart similar to the Christmas hampers the organization will soon be giving out. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)

‘It means a great deal:’ Goldstream food bank busy preparing Christmas hampers

The holiday meal-themed hampers will also include gift cards to buy a turkey and toys for the kids

Goldstream Food Bank Society volunteer Petra Benbow, left, president Gayle Ireland and volunteer Cynthia Fizzard show off a fully loaded shopping cart similar to the Christmas hampers the organization will soon be giving out. (Justin Samanski-Langille/News Staff)
A group has gathered for nearly seven years in Oak Bay to create Christmas hampers. This year the party moves to Vic West. (Courtesy Joyce Kline)

Holiday hamper party moves from Oak Bay to Vic West

Group targets building 200 food boxes for those in need across Greater Victoria

A group has gathered for nearly seven years in Oak Bay to create Christmas hampers. This year the party moves to Vic West. (Courtesy Joyce Kline)
Goldstream Food Bank president and volunteer Gayle Ireland stands beside the meat pasta shelf with one of the sole cans left over following the Sept. 14 distribution. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Goldstream Food Bank in need of children’s snacks

Non-essential items requested to help West Shore clients get through their week

Goldstream Food Bank president and volunteer Gayle Ireland stands beside the meat pasta shelf with one of the sole cans left over following the Sept. 14 distribution. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Wren Shaman hopes the community fridge initiative will expand throughout Victoria. (Tegwyn Hughes/News Staff)

Victoria community fridge responds to growing demand

New volunteers, locations needed to combat food insecurity

Wren Shaman hopes the community fridge initiative will expand throughout Victoria. (Tegwyn Hughes/News Staff)
Gayle Ireland (second from the left) with the team of volunteers at Goldstream Food Bank. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)

Goldstream Food Bank in need of donations amid rising demand

Clients increasing 10 per cent a month since August with rising cost of living in Greater Victoria

Gayle Ireland (second from the left) with the team of volunteers at Goldstream Food Bank. (Kiernan Green/News Staff)
Langford’s first Little Free Pantry saw a total turnover of product in its first week. (Courtesy of Kevin Clark)

Little Free Pantry in Langford provides discrete support for people in need

Anonymous streetside food bank sees complete turnover of donated, taken goods in first week

Langford’s first Little Free Pantry saw a total turnover of product in its first week. (Courtesy of Kevin Clark)
The Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank led by executive director Bev Elder will be the benefactor of the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive (Saanich Peninsula). The event, however, still needs volunteers. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich Peninsula section of BC Thanksgiving Food Drive still needs volunteers

Bag drop-off work happening this week, pickup day is Saturday, Sept. 25

The Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank led by executive director Bev Elder will be the benefactor of the BC Thanksgiving Food Drive (Saanich Peninsula). The event, however, still needs volunteers. (Black Press Media file photo)
Clarice Dillman (left) and Kim Cummins are excited about their new community kitchen on Cedar Hill Road. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)

Renovations provide cozy new space for Saanich community kitchen

New Cedar Hill Road location opens to provide healthy food options for those in need

Clarice Dillman (left) and Kim Cummins are excited about their new community kitchen on Cedar Hill Road. (Megan Atkins-Baker/News Staff)
A free-food market that has been serving people from the Quadra Village Community Centre for the last decade is on the hunt for a new location. (Facebook/Living Edge Community)

Victoria free-food market looking for new permanent home

Living Edge’s last market at the Quadra Village Community Centre is on Aug. 26

A free-food market that has been serving people from the Quadra Village Community Centre for the last decade is on the hunt for a new location. (Facebook/Living Edge Community)
Bending lengths of chicken wire into arches, Philip Smith constructs trellises for beans to run their way up. Drawn to the work and the cause, Smith has been volunteering at the farm three days a week since March. “It’s fun because there’s different stuff all the time and it’s outside and I’ve got a wonderful boss – don't tell him I said that," he says with a cheeky smile. “It may not be for everybody but I enjoy it.” (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Farm to food bank: Volunteers ensure free, fresh produce for Greater Victorians in need

Fruits, vegetables delivered directly from Gatton House Farm to free food markets

Bending lengths of chicken wire into arches, Philip Smith constructs trellises for beans to run their way up. Drawn to the work and the cause, Smith has been volunteering at the farm three days a week since March. “It’s fun because there’s different stuff all the time and it’s outside and I’ve got a wonderful boss – don't tell him I said that," he says with a cheeky smile. “It may not be for everybody but I enjoy it.” (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)