Food Bank

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)
Sabine Laubental (bottom left) has been a frequent donor to Soweto Junior School for over 10 years. (Support Soweto Junior School)

Victoria senior invites public for fundraiser walk for Kenyan school

Funds to benefit Soweto Junior School, which can feed one child for a month for $8

Sabine Laubental (bottom left) has been a frequent donor to Soweto Junior School for over 10 years. (Support Soweto Junior School)
Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, appreciated the donation of $100,000 from the District of Central Saanich. She said this funding, and the moneys received from other municipal partners, is critical as donations typically drop in summer. (Black Press Media File)

Food bank staff grateful for $100,000 donation from Central Saanich

Money for Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank comes from municipality’s COVID-19 restart grant

Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank, appreciated the donation of $100,000 from the District of Central Saanich. She said this funding, and the moneys received from other municipal partners, is critical as donations typically drop in summer. (Black Press Media File)
A May food drive organized by students at Stelly’s Secondary School collected more than 19,000 non-perishable food items from across Central Saanich. (Courtesy of Ryan Braun)

Student-led food drive in Central Saanich sets new record

Stelly’s students organize May 5 event, over 19,000 food items collected

A May food drive organized by students at Stelly’s Secondary School collected more than 19,000 non-perishable food items from across Central Saanich. (Courtesy of Ryan Braun)
Tyson Frolek, a Grade 12 student at Lambrick Park Secondary School, hits a home run at the Victoria HarbourCats Players Club to raise money for the Mustard Seed Food Bank. (Charlotte Aitken photo)

VIDEO: Saanich high school students, firefighters hit 200 home runs for the hungry

Lambrick Park Secondary baseball players host fundraiser for Mustard Seed Food Bank

Tyson Frolek, a Grade 12 student at Lambrick Park Secondary School, hits a home run at the Victoria HarbourCats Players Club to raise money for the Mustard Seed Food Bank. (Charlotte Aitken photo)
Jason Austin donates 20 tonnes of produce from his Gatton House Farm to local food banks every year. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)

Central Saanich philanthropic farmer plants seeds for food security

Jason Austin donates all his farm’s produce to food banks

Jason Austin donates 20 tonnes of produce from his Gatton House Farm to local food banks every year. (Jane Skrypnek/News Staff)
The Sooke School District raised more than $18,000 for the Goldstream and Sooke food banks from the funds of 10,000 Tonight in December 2020. The funds go two- to 2.5-times further due to the buying power of the food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)

SD62 high school students raise more than $18,000 for food banks

Edward Milne in Sooke rakes in $11,000 alone

The Sooke School District raised more than $18,000 for the Goldstream and Sooke food banks from the funds of 10,000 Tonight in December 2020. The funds go two- to 2.5-times further due to the buying power of the food banks. (Black Press Media file photo)
Sooke’s Edward Milne Community School raised more than $11,000 for 10,000 Tonight, the annual event that usually collects non-perishables for the Sooke Food Bank. This year, the school only accepted online donations and held an online auction. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke school crushes 10,000 Tonight goal, raises $11,000 for Sooke Food Bank

Online auction replaces collection of food items

Sooke’s Edward Milne Community School raised more than $11,000 for 10,000 Tonight, the annual event that usually collects non-perishables for the Sooke Food Bank. This year, the school only accepted online donations and held an online auction. (Black Press Media file photo)
A new food pantry outside the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association building offers non-perishable food items for anyone in need. It operates on a “leave what you can, take what you need” basis. (Courtesy of Caitlin Boudreau)

Creator of Fairfield community pantry hopes to help destigmatize food insecurity

Victoria food pantry is modeled after Little Free Libraries

A new food pantry outside the Fairfield Gonzales Community Association building offers non-perishable food items for anyone in need. It operates on a “leave what you can, take what you need” basis. (Courtesy of Caitlin Boudreau)
The Northstar Organics team takes a break during the growing season in Saanichton. The South Island FarmHub program has enhanced the notion of food security and connected residents with their local farms. (Courtesy CR FAIR)

Fresh regional produce available for Christmas in Victoria

South Island FarmHub helps maintain connection between local farmers and consumers

The Northstar Organics team takes a break during the growing season in Saanichton. The South Island FarmHub program has enhanced the notion of food security and connected residents with their local farms. (Courtesy CR FAIR)
Representative from the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and Sooke’s IAFF Local 4841 presented the Sooke Food Bank with a cheque for over $36,000 on Dec. 17. The funds raised will go towards feeding those in need across the Sooke region. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)

Sooke Christmas Bureau gifted with $36,000 donation by firefighters

Santa Run raised over $11,000 in a single night

Representative from the Sooke Firefighter’s Association and Sooke’s IAFF Local 4841 presented the Sooke Food Bank with a cheque for over $36,000 on Dec. 17. The funds raised will go towards feeding those in need across the Sooke region. (Aaron Guillen/News Staff)
Kim Metzger, president of the Sooke Food Bank Society, said she’s pleasantly surprised to find out that Sooke council voted to gift a $10,000 donation to the food bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)

Council donates $10,000 to food bank

Donation comes from $80,000 contingency fund

Kim Metzger, president of the Sooke Food Bank Society, said she’s pleasantly surprised to find out that Sooke council voted to gift a $10,000 donation to the food bank. (File - Sooke News Mirror)
On Dec. 16, Sooke council is set to discuss whether they can support the Sooke Food Bank with a one-time ‘COVID donation’, made available from the district’s contingency fund. (Black Press Media file photo)

Sooke to discuss whether to give Sooke Food Bank one-time ‘COVID donation’

Council to decide at special meeting at 7 p.m. on Dec. 16

On Dec. 16, Sooke council is set to discuss whether they can support the Sooke Food Bank with a one-time ‘COVID donation’, made available from the district’s contingency fund. (Black Press Media file photo)
Mary Truttman, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 37, presents a cheque for $2,500 to Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. (Courtesy Legion Branch 37)

Legion boosts Saanich Peninsula food bank during busy season

Donors not too late for Lions Food Bank’s 12 Days of Christmas Giving Holiday Food Drive

Mary Truttman, president of Royal Canadian Legion Branch 37, presents a cheque for $2,500 to Bev Elder, executive director of the Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank. (Courtesy Legion Branch 37)
Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)

Safety measures ready to roll for BC Transit’s Stuff the Bus in Saanich

Non-perishable food items and new unwrapped toys accepted at Tillicum Mall on Dec. 19

Volunteers Denny Byrne and Shelley Bloomfield help organize donations during a previous BC Transit Stuff the Bus charity event. This year’s event, featuring COVID safety measures, happens Dec. 19 outside Save-On-Foods at Tillicum Centre. (Black Press Media file photo)
A group of View Royal residents collected over 60 grocery bags for the Goldstream Food Bank on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Sylvia May photo)

View Royal residents, kids collect more than 60 grocery bags full for food bank

Residents wore masks, social-distanced and avoided knocking on doors

A group of View Royal residents collected over 60 grocery bags for the Goldstream Food Bank on Saturday, Dec. 5. (Sylvia May photo)