Use of Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank in Nanaimo has increased 34% over the past year. I have seen this increase in action, as the lineup at the depot that I visit has gotten considerably longer.
There are depots open across Nanaimo 7 days a week.
If you think you need food support, you qualify to use the food bank! This is a low-barrier resource. Clients are not required to show any income information to qualify. The only requirement is a piece of ID for you and each of the people in your home when you register.
Nanaimo is unique because our food bank runs a successful food reclamation program with local grocery stores. I often hear struggling people say that they don’t want to take food away from others who need it more than they do. However, the beauty of the Nanaimo program is that there is abundant food available for all that is being saved from the landfill.
At a depot, clients wait in line, then go to the registration table with their ID, and finally head to the tables with food. Every two weeks, clients can do a full shop. However, you can visit a depot every day for bread and produce, if needed.
The volunteers are consistently kind and helpful.
Clients walk along tables holding large containers of food. Volunteers will tell you how much you can take for each category.
Generally there are canned foods, pantry items, meat, dairy (milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt), deli products (dips, meals, salads, sandwiches), produce, breads, and pastries. The selection does vary widely from day to day.
A few things to keep in mind:
*Most perishable food available is past the best before date. The graphic below can help you to determine timelines for using those products.
*Flexibility is important. Don’t expect to find specific items or brands. Available items vary widely.
*The produce is generally at the end of its useful life. However, you can cut soft/bruised pieces off, and use much of it for stews, soups and baking.
*The food bank is here to help us stretch our food dollars. However, don’t expect that it will replace grocery shopping. You will still need to budget some funds for food.
Personally, I value the food bank tremendously. Visiting once every 2 weeks shaves about $200 a month off my family grocery bill. We are fortunate to have such a well-run resource available in Nanaimo.
Poverty Advocacy Nanaimo 