Food Banks BC, United Way BC included in $200M funding boost

BC food banks and United Way BC are just two organizations that will benefit from a $200 million investment from the province.

On Monday, Premier David Eby and Pam Alexis, minister of agriculture and food, announced the investment that aims to support food security for thousands of British Columbians.

“Food security in British Columbia requires an available, affordable and uninterrupted supply of nutritious food,” said Eby.

“At the same time, we need targeted, effective programs that support the people and communities most impacted by rising inflation, climate events and supply-chain shocks.”

The funding will support new programs meant to strengthen BC’s food supply chain and expand local food production.

Some of the initiatives will include investments in Indigenous food security and sovereignty programs, food security planning when natural disasters happen and flood mitigation work in the Fraser Valley.

“This funding will help strengthen our food supply chain, increase food security in our communities, and improve our resilience in the face of a changing climate,” said Alexis.

In addition, grants from the Ministry of Social Development and Poverty Reduction will support food banks across BC.

This will see food provided to under-served communities through partners such as FoodBanks BC and United Way.

Food insecurity has been on the rise in BC due to the COVID-19 pandemic, inflation, supply-chain issues and climate emergencies that interrupt food supply.

“With British Columbians turning to food banks in record numbers, the funding support from the Province could not have been better timed,” says Dan Huang Taylor, executive director, Food Banks BC.