For many, summer means days of barbecues and picnics, but for the more than 28,000 people who rely on food banks to make ends meet, fresh produce isn't always available.
But this summer, the Greater Vancouver Food Bank Society is trying something a little different.
"In an attempt to be a better food bank and increase the amount of nutrition that we're able to provide, we've totally retooled (the handout bags)," says Kay Thody, communications director for the society.
There are two food bank locations in Burnaby, and by May they start running out of food donated during the holiday season - in fact, overall need at the Burnaby depots increased 13 per cent from 2011 to 2012 during July and August. This is the time of year when the society relies on purchasing foods to meet the needs of its clients, Thody says.
"We are really fortunate where we are, our rear ends are kind of plunked in farmland," she says. "We do have the opportunity to work with farmers, . so now we actually have farmers growing crops for us."
By buying in bulk, the society can make the most out of its money and supply fresh produce to people who use food banks, in Burnaby and the Lower Mainland.
But Thody says it's not just the society that needs to rethink what's being donated. People should also consider the nutritional value of the foods they're donating, she says.
"We're asking people to spend a bit more time looking at that label when they are thinking of making a donation," she says.
Instead of grabbing just any old item from the shelf, Thody says the society is encouraging people to read the label to ensure they're donating the healthiest foods.
"We just completed a nine-month process with nutritionists from Vancouver Coastal Health Authority, in which we had two nurses and dietitians . work with us and completely redo the bag program," she says.
Throughout the process, dietitians and nurses created a template for the society that outlined which foods were the healthiest and which should be removed from the food packages.
"A lot of the tinned products have a tendency to be very, very high in sodium," she explains. "Sodium is one of those sneaky detrimental things and so often times there's products available at a very similar price that is a healthier option."
In support of the society's shift to a model that fosters self-sufficiency and healthy eating, the society is hosting an event on Monday, July 22. Seeding Change is a day-long event where people can come by and learn about sustainable gardening, plant a seed or take seeds home. The event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the north side of the Vancouver Art Gallery at 750 Hornby St. For more information, visit www.foodbank.bc.ca.
