For many, inflation and food insecurity are just buzzwords circulating with increasing frequency but for Vancouver-based food organizations, it's a growing issue they are combating every day.
Vancouver Food Runners is among these groups.
Founded in March 2020, VFR seeks to alleviate food insecurity and promote sustainability by salvaging food that would otherwise be wasted.
Volunteers collect surplus produce and dairy from grocery stores, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, and wholesalers and distribute it to other non-profits working with food-insecure individuals such as the Strathcona Community Centre Backpack Program, Kilala Lelum which provides health equity and decolonized care for Indigenous Peoples, and Directions Youth Services supports youth who are in crisis or experiencing homelessness.
“With food prices soaring, the cost of living going up and a looming recession, there is a growing sense of desperation,” says founder Tristan Jagger in a press release. “Our community partners need greater support, now more than ever."
Inflation's impact on the rising cost of food is causing VFW to call for more volunteers to help conduct food rescue missions.
According to VFR, the average volunteer food rescue takes an hour and results in approximately $469 worth of food, the equivalent of 150 meals, donated.
"We are asking for volunteers to step up so that we can help bridge the surging food and nutrition insecurity gap. It’s an easy, rewarding and flexible way to give back and make a real difference in your community,” says Jagger.
How does volunteering for Vancouver Food Runners work?
VFW volunteers don't require large vehicles or storage facilities which they say can be expensive and creates a longer lead time. Instead, they are asked to download the Vancouver Food Runners app and they claim the surplus food donated to a supplier and deliver it to a non-profit partner that VFR has matched the food to all in the same trip.
“Vancouver Food Runners is a very lean organization, with 96 per cent of donation dollars going directly to program delivery that feeds over 12,000 people and growing each month. That is why we rely so heavily on our small army of volunteers to rescue good, nutritious surplus food from going to waste and get it back into the community where it is put to incredible use,” says Executive Director Michelle Reining.
VFR estimates that 58 per cent of all food produced in Canada each year is wasted or lost and claims that nine households in B.C. are food insecure.
Elaine Perry, a Vancouver Food Runners volunteer says "being a Food Runner is immensely enjoyable and purposeful. I meet and connect with wonderful people and services that are earnestly and cheerfully making a huge contribution to our city."
YWCA, Atira Women's Resource Society, Covenant House, and Pacific Immigrant Resources Society are also recipients of VFR's food rescue program.
