Friends In Need Food Bank in Maple Ridge has raised enough money to replace their refrigerated van, essential to the Perishable Food Recovery Program.
The food bank needed $110,000 to replace the van. And, with a final donation of $20,000 from the Rotary Club of Ridge Meadows, they can now afford to purchase a new one.
Kim Boekhorst, executive director of the Friends In Need Food Bank, said the new van was really needed as the old one was on its last legs.
“(The van) is something that we use on a day-to-day basis, seven days a week for the Perishable Food Recovery Program,” explained Boekhorst, adding that a van is a must have for the food bank.
Other donations towards the new van included: $6,000 from the Fraternal Order of Eagles; $5,000 from the Maple Ridge Lions Club; and $25,000 from the Geraldine and Kenneth Burnett Fund.
Boekhorst said he already spoke with West Coast Ford and the refrigeration unit is being ordered in, which will take about two to three weeks.
He is hoping to have the van in about a month.
Boekhorst said there is a real cost to operating the food bank.
One dollar raised today doesn’t go as far as it did even last year, he said.
“The cost of everything has gone up,” added Boekhorst. “And, on top of that, then you have this huge influx of usage.”
Since the beginning of January until now there has been about a 20 per cent increase in the amount of people who use the food bank.
Currently there are more than 1,000 different households accessing the food bank now, as opposed to 516 just five years ago.
And, volunteers at the food bank are seeing more working families, seniors on fixed incomes, and people who never expected they would need the food bank’s services.
In April the food bank recorded 3,009 visits, serving 1,001 households and 2,235 individuals – including 93 newly registered clients – a 15 per cent increase in visits that in 2025.
And the amount of people needing the services of the food bank keeps rising.
Even the Perishable Food Recovery Program is suffering, recovering 38,500 kilograms of food in April, down 12 per cent from March.
Boekhorst said he is thankful the community stands behind the food bank, especially with the continued support of local donations and local service clubs.
Anyone wanting to help out the food bank can donate food in the bins at local grocery stores, or round up their bill at the cashier.
Or go to: https://friendsneedfood.com/.