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Funds for food banks to support people in need

Chemainus Harvest House Food Bank receives $12,500
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Nanaimo-North Cowichan MLA Doug Routley. (Photo by Don Bodger)

MLAs Sheila Malcomson and Doug Routley say funding distributed to local food banks and food security programs across B.C. will help support people in need in Nanaimo and North Cowichan.

“Food banks in our region are here for people during times of need, without fear or judgement,” said Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan. “This funding will support our local food banks to do this work, especially over the holiday season when they experience their highest levels of need.”

In August 2023, the Province announced $15 million in funding for Food Banks B.C. to help people in B.C. access nutritious food in their communities. This funding was then distributed by Food Banks B.C. to local organizations.

In Nanaimo and North Cowichan, the following organizations received funding: Loaves and Fishes Food Bank, $120,888; Chemainus Harvest House Food Bank, $12,500; Ladysmith Resource Centre Association, $12,500; and People for a Healthy Community (Gabriola), $7,500.

“We all want people to have the support they need to get by, and our funding will help people get nutritious food,” said Malcolmson, MLA for Nanaimo. “More people will get good nutritious food on more Vancouver Island tables when Loaves and Fishes expands food redistribution with our funding.”

The funding is part of a larger $200 million announced in the spring for work to strengthen the food supply, increase availability of fresh food, encourage food production in remote areas, strengthen food infrastructure and create more regional food hubs.

Funding for the local organizations helps them have a direct impact on their communities, and be able to choose how best to serve people in need.