United Way BC Food Security Initiatives

Supports health and wellness through food security initiatives. Food Hubs offer access to food, food literacy and wellness programming, as well as other services; provided by networks of nonprofit partners, residents, businesses, government, the agricultural sector, and other funders in many communities. See website for hub locations. Also supports the expansion of Food Fillers food rescue and recovery networks that redistribute food at risk of being wasted by businesses to community partners who can use it. Through the Food Link app (https://uwbc.ca/program/foodlink), nonprofit agencies in the Upper Fraser Valley, Surrey, and North Okanagan who distribute food to their clients can put out requests for specific food in hopes that local food suppliers and organizations will be able to help. In partnership with the Ministry of Health, oversees the Food Infrastructure Grant Program that helps improve year-round, long-term purchase, storage, and distribution of fresh, culturally appropriate food to enhance health and community wellbeing in rural, remote, and Indigenous communities. Serves BC communities in the Lower Mainland, Fraser Valley, Southern Interior, Thompson/Nicola/Cariboo, and Central and Northern Vancouver Island.