Annual Report 2021

Executive Director's Message
Bernadette Siracky

This past year was unprecedented – in every way. Face masks, sanitizer and social distancing became the norm as vaccines were approved for emergency use. Keeping our doors open during a global pandemic was our modus operandi and our dedicated staff ensured we operated safely for this to happen. We shifted safety protocol as new information came to light and we opened our doors to new clientsmany of whom were first time users of our service.

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President's Message
Lisa Lake

When I wrote my message for the 2020 AGM, it was with hope that 2021 would be a year where we returned to “normal”. As we have all discovered, in many ways 2021 was an even more complicated and complex year for the clients at the Food Bank. Not only were many still facing possible health challenges due to the virus and termination of government financial supports, summer 2021 brought wild fires to the area which resulted in evacuation to Kamloops of a number of vulnerable people. Some of the evacuees have since returned to their communities but others are still here while communities determine how to move forward.

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2021 By The Numbers

Who We're Getting Food To

General Stats

Events

Rotary
Food Drives

The Rotary Food Drives take place twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall. Rotarians canvas the entire city collecting yellow bags of donations. Rotarians gathered 116,000 pounds of nonperishable food in 2021. This is a retail value of over $300,000.

B-100 Basics
For Babies

Basics for Babies shifted from an in-person breakfast to a telethon style event hosted by B-100 and CFJC-Midday. The donations received at this event ensures the consistent availability of baby food, formula, diapers and hygiene products for children under the age of three.

BC
Share

BC Share coupons are available at most grocery stores in Kamloops. Customers have the option of adding two dollars to their bill which assists the Kamloops Food Bank with the purchase of healthy product.

Programs

The foodSHARE program has diverted over 18 million pounds of perishable food from the landfills, making it available to people in need.

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The Starfish Backpack Program helps feed 130 local school children by ensuring they have nutritious food for the weekend.

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The Baby Bank, which is largely supported by our annual Basics for Babies event, supports our youngest clients with formula, diapers and more.

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Sharing Food
Feeding Hope

We are proud to offer our clients weekly access to healthy food.

Perishable
Available once per week, these hampers include items such as dairy, meat, produce, bread and premade deli meals.

Single, Couple, Family
Available once per month, these non-perishable hampers are prepared in various sizes to suit different household types and include pantry staples such as rice, noodles, soup, canned meat and canned vegetables.

High Protein, Pre/Post-Natal
Clients requiring a high protein diet as indicated by their physician receive high protein items or an increased opportunity to access perishable food items.

Transient
These hampers contain items that can be opened without a can opener and products which require minimal preparation.

foodSHARE is the largest food recovery program operated by a food bank in Western Canada. Over 18 million pounds diverted from the landfill since the program started in 2007 and delivered to 7,000 clients, 52 community agencies that make meals and local farmers who use expired product for animal feed. This initiative is zero waste. Healthy product including meat, dairy, produce and bakery items are available to our clients weekly.

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Community
Food Distribution

Agencies

  1. ASK Wellness (Bridgeway)
  2. ASK Wellness (Crossroads)
  3. ASK Wellness (Panorama)
  4. ASK Wellness (Triple A)
  5. Babies Headstart (ICS)
  6. Boys and Girls Club
  7. Centre for Seniors Information
  8. Child Development
  9. EFRY-Family Stepping Stones
  10. Equality Project-Cache Creek
  11. Family Tree
  12. First Steps (ICS)
  13. Good Food Centre (ICS)
  14. Hopewell Clinic and Pregnancy Centre
  15. Kamloops Native Housing
  16. Kamloops Reach
  17. King Street (IH)
  18. Loop
  19. Lii Michif Otipemisiwak Family
  20. Lii Michif Otipemisiwack Youth
  21. Maverick Manor
  22. Meal Train
  23. Merritt Friendship Centre
  24. Mustard Seed
  25. Pit Stop
  26. River of Life
  27. Street School (ICS)
  28. Vision Quest
  29. Youth Street Outreach (ICS)

Schools

  1. AE Perry Elementary
  2. Arthur Hatton Elementary
  3. Arthur Stevenson Elementary
  4. Beattie Elementary
  5. Bert Edwards Elementary
  6. Brocklehurst Middle School
  7. Dallas Elementary
  8. David Thompson Elementary
  9. Four Directions Secondary
  10. Kay Bingham Elementary
  11. KSA
  12. Marion Schilling Elementary
  13. Norkam Secondary
  14. Parkcrest Elementary
  15. Pinantan Elementary
  16. RL Clemitson Elementary
  17. Savona Elementary
  18. South Kamloops Secondary
  19. Summit Elementary
  20. Westsyde Secondary

Associate Member Food Banks

  1. 100 Mile House
  2. Ashcroft
  3. Barriere
  4. Chase
  5. Clearwater
  6. Lillooet
  7. Lillooet
  8. Logan Lake
  9. Lytton
  10. Merritt

Retail Supporters

  1. Cain's Independent Grocery
  2. Costco
  3. Little Caesar's N. Shore
  4. Little Caesar's Sahali
  5. London Drugs
  6. Market Fresh
  7. Nature's Fare
  8. Safeway Fortune
  9. Fresh Co.
  10. Save-On Brock
  11. Save-On Lansdowne
  12. Save-On Sahali
  13. Save-On Valleyview
  14. Save-On Westsyde
  15. Shoppers Drug Mart
  16. Shoppers Drug Mart N. Shore
  17. Starbucks Valleyview
  18. Superstore
  19. Walmart
  20. 7-Eleven Summit
  21. 7-Eleven Brock
  22. 7-Eleven Sahali

Why a New Warehouse?

Recognized as Essential Service
Covid-19 demanded a significant shift in our operations as regional, provincial, and federal governments recognized us as an ‘essential service’ for the most vulnerable in the communities we serve.

We Shifted Fast
Changing health protocols meant we modified our space, retrained staff and clients and reduced our volunteer numbers. Fundraisers went online and most importantly, we were serving individuals who had never before needed the Food Bank.

Unparalleled Need & Support
As weeks turned to months, our challenges evolved. Each met with unparalleled support. The response was like none other.

The Challenge That Remains
Despite this support, we faced a continued challenge - storage! We had been operating with multiple off-site rented storage solutions.

Directing Resources Toward Sustainable Future
Simple economics prohibits long term rental of off-site warehouse space. We must be ready for what the future brings. Solving our storage issue is part of ensuring our sustainability.

Strategic Plan 2022-2024

Download the Strategic Plan

It is with respect and gratitude that the Kamloops Food Bank acknowledges our presence on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemc Nation. We are committed to learning and working towards reconciliation along with fostering a culture of respect and equality for all.

IMPORTANT NOTICE
We are closed Today - Nov 7 due to treacherous road conditions.