A new leader has taken over the reins at the food bank that supports the communities of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows.
Kim Boekhorst has officially been named as the new executive director of the Friends In Need Food Bank as of Sunday, March 1.
Boekhorst is taking over the role from Mary Robson, who held the position since 2013, and whom board chair Lynda Lawrence described as a respected leader and advocate in the community for many years.
Under Robson’s leadership, said Lawrence, Friends in Need strengthened its food security programs, expanded outreach, and established strong partnerships with local businesses, service organizations, and volunteers.
In her endeavor to reach all our homeless and individuals in need, Robson made it the organizations’s mandate to arrange partnerships with outreach organizations able to identify and service those unable to visit the food bank, noted the board chair. This enabled outreach workers to address special needs through customized selection, paired with home delivery.
“We are deeply grateful for Mary’s commitment and leadership throughout her tenure and wish her all the best in her retirement. Her dedication to supporting vulnerable individuals and families has had a lasting impact on the organization’s mission and culture,” Lawrence added.
During Robson’s tenure, the Perishable Food Recovery Program was launched in September 2017, providing fresh food to clients – surplus food from local stores and farms, that would otherwise end up in a landfill.
To date, more than 7.5 million pounds of food have been diverted from landfills and repurposed.
Robson also led the food bank through the challenges of the 2020 pandemic, making sure volunteers adapted service delivery to ensure safety while continuing to provide clients with fresh, healthy food.
“It has been my pleasure to serve the residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows alongside so many dedicated and compassionate volunteers and a deeply caring, generous community. While I am stepping back, I will continue to be involved,” said Robson who will continue to provide limited financial oversight during the transition as Boekhorst assumes the leadership role.
Boekhorst was chosen following a comprehensive search and selection process last year, explained Lawrence.
He has lived and worked in Maple Ridge for 46 years and brings a long history of community involvement, leadership, and relationship building. He has been an active volunteer with both the food bank and other local charitable initiatives and believes strongly in giving back and supporting those in need.
“We are confident that Kim will continue Mary’s legacy of compassion and service while bringing new ideas, energy, and a renewed commitment to strengthening food security in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. We remain committed to our mission which is to ensure that no individual in our community ever goes hungry,” Lawrence added.
The Friends in Need Food Bank Society serves Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows, with a mandate to ensure that no one in our community goes hungry. Through community partnerships, volunteer support, and dedicated leadership, the organization provides essential food and resources to those in need.
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