ARE YOU IN NEED OF FOOD OR A MEAL?
GROCERY GRAB & GO
WEDNESDAYS: 11:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M.
In case you haven’t seen the Wednesday afternoon set up, here’s what happens. There are two tables set up in the church courtyard. When it rains we set up tents and use the bell tower. People come, starting at 1 pm, and 1-2 of every item available is set out so that people can take the things that they want. Usually we have some kind of protein, 2-3 vegetables, a fruit, eggs or milk or yoghurt, and other non-perishable foods (soup, sauce, rice, lentils, pasta). Every week about 50 households get food from our Grab ‘n’ Go Grocery Project – it’s not enough to feed them for a week, but it’s good for a supper and some lunches too.
Most weeks, we get our basic supplies from the Greater Vancouver Food Bank. One week a month we’re on our own. That week we hand out whatever we have left from the previous three weeks supplemented by whatever we have enough of in our Grocery Cupboard. In order to keep the Grocery Cupboard supplied, we rely on donations from the community – either foods or money to buy food. Food is great and means we don’t have to buy food. Money is great because it means we can buy specific foods in large quantities – coffee and tea are great treats but we don’t like to put out one or two packets. If we’re going to offer something like that we want enough for everyone.
IN SEARCH OF…
Right now, for example, it would be great to have donations of bags if you have more than you need. They come and go with remarkable speed.
ADDITIONAL GROUPS SHARING FOOD IN NEW WESTMINSTER:
Holy Trinity Cathedral
Downtown: 514 Carnarvon Street
Take away brunch
Saturday 11am-noon
Hope Omid at Mount Zion Lutheran Church
No registration required
Victory Heights: 930 Cumberland St.
Food Hampers: Monday and Friday 4:00pm-5:00pm
Lookout with St. Vincent de Paul
Downtown: The Russell Honeymoon Suite, Alexander St. (and Carnarvon)
Hot Meals
Friday’s 5:00pm – 6:00pm and the 1st/2nd Sunday each month noon – 1:00 pm
Lower Mainland Purpose Society
Downtown: 40 Begbie Street
Register with Ashley at: 604.526.2522.
Hamper Program: Delivery or pick up available.
Food Distribution: Friday noon – 12:15pm (Behind Purpose on Alexander St.)
Muslim Food Bank
604.464.6750 (Arabic and English)
Register online: www.muslimfoodbank.ca
Union Gospel Mission
Downtown: 658 Clarkson Street
Hot breakfast: Monday to Friday 8:00am – 9:00am
Hot lunch: Take away only – Monday to Friday 11:30am – 12:30pm
For more info on food and other available resources visit:
LASTLY
We recognize programs such as these do not ameliorate the systemic issues that lead to food insecurity. While these types of programs may help people in the short term, we call upon all levels of government, local, provincial, national and international, to work together for a just “Kindom” where everyone is welcome to sit at the table and enjoy the abundance of God’s creation.
Please consider supporting programs such as universal basic income, “just recovery” and/or “build back better”.