Don’t Go Hungry provides food support to neighbours in need through a compassionate, community based program in New Westminster and Burnaby. As a mission of Trinity Presbyterian Church, we partner with multiple community groups and a wide diversity of volunteers to feed our neighbours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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In June 2019, Rev. Laurie McKay of St. Aidan\u2019s Presbyterian Church asked some parents at the nearby school: “What happens to kids during the summer who rely on the school breakfast and lunch programs during the school year?” She said, “They come back to school thinner and hungrier.” That was not acceptable. With support from the school, the seniors\u2019 centre, public health, the city planner and other local churches, we launched a Summer Food Program. Starting with just 6 volunteers, we distributed reclaimed food to 25 to 30 families, helping to bridge the gap during the summer months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through the experience of this small summer program, we learned that most food programs operate mid-week, making it difficult for working families to access food support. We planned to launch a Saturday Food Support Program in April 2020, but COVID-19 changed everything. We knew people needed food even more with loss of work and the closing of schools, so we began the Don\u2019t Go Hungry Food Support Program. We collaborated with various organizations including the New West Homelessness Coalition, Fraser Health, Greater Vancouver Food Bank and Dan\u2019s Legacy Food Rescue. On our first Saturday, 7 volunteers delivered food to 7 households at St. Aidan\u2019s Church in New Westminster. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program expanded quickly with support from the City of New Westminster staff who helped us secure grants from the United Way and the Vancouver Foundation to launch our efforts. We worked closely with Fraser Health and the City Bylaws to comply with Covid 19 restrictions. In June 2020, we added Knox Presbyterian in the Sapperton neighbourhood of New Westminster and in July we added Gordon Presbyterian in the Edmonds area of south Burnaby. We later added the Queensborough Community Centre and have since moved from the Knox site to a new location, the New Westminster Community Church. We have also added a Food Hamper Delivery program for those who are unable to travel to a local food program. Referrals to the program come from hospitals, doctors, and community social workers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We now have close to 250 volunteers who come from the church congregation, community organizations, word of mouth, high schools, social media and our clients wanting to give back. In the spring of 2021, we transformed the backyard of the manse into a garden; together with the City of New Westminster Greenhouse, local farms and a few neighbours\u2019 gardens, we now distribute fresh produce each year with the weekly hampers.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n