Friends in Need Food Bank Society will have a new delivery vehicle to help them keep food moving throughout Maple Ridge
and Pitt Meadows.
The vehicle will replace an aging 2019 delivery van that had become increasingly unreliable and costly to maintain.
Kim Boekhorst, executive director of Friends in Need Food Bank Society, noted that reliable transportation is essential to collecting food donations, recovering surplus food from grocery partners, supplying the food bank’s facilities, and supporting community food programs throughout both cities.
“This vehicle is much more than a van—it is an essential part of how we serve our community,” said Boekhorst.
“Every day, our vehicles are on the road collecting and transporting food that would otherwise be wasted and ensuring it reaches individuals, families, children, and seniors who need it,” he said, adding that the food bank operates seven days a week, 364 days a year, providing food assistance to nearly 1,000 households each week.
The new van will help the society’s Perishable Food Recovery Program which operates daily and in June, 2026, alone, recovered approximately 37,500 kgs or more than 80,000 pounds of food.
This program helps redirect quality surplus food away from waste streams and into the hands of local residents and community outreach partners.
The new vehicle will also support donor pickups, food distribution, school food programs, and the movement of supplies between the society’s Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows, and Perishable Food Recovery facilities.
It was purchased through the generous support of the Geraldine and Kenneth Burnett Fund, West Coast Ford, local service clubs, and community funding partners.
“This purchase was only made possible because organizations throughout our community recognized the need and stepped forward,” Boekhorst added.
“We are incredibly grateful to every funding partner who helped turn an urgent operational need into a lasting investment in our
community.”
For more information about the food bank or to donate go to: https://friendsneedfood.com/