Province providing $3 million emergency grant to Food Banks BC

Canada’s food banks are putting out a call for monetary donations to help them meet people’s needs amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support vulnerable British Columbians during this time, the Province is providing a $3-million emergency grant.

The grant is from the Community Gaming Grants program to Food Banks British Columbia.

Food Banks BC will use this funding to “buy and distribute food, pay employees and cover other costs essential to the delivery of their food programs.”

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“This grant uses funding that remained in the Community Gaming Grant’s 2019-20 budget of $140 million after all 2019 community gaming grants had been awarded to or approved for eligible organizations,” read the release.

Funds will be distributed quickly to food banks in need across the province.

“We know that many British Columbia families count on food banks to supplement their weekly grocery needs. To help ensure that people continue to have access to the food they need, our government is taking steps by supporting BC food banks so they can, in turn, keep meeting the needs of the people in the communities they serve,” said Mable Elmore, Parliamentary Secretary for Poverty Reduction.

“Using funds from the gaming grants program is an example of how government and non-profit partners are working together to respond to the evolving nature of the pandemic, easing the burden on BC’s food banks and helping people who are feeling the strain of the COVID-19 crisis.”