The Rotary Food Drives take place twice a year, in the Spring and in the Fall. Rotarians canvas the entire city collecting yellow bags of donations. Rotarians gathered 116,000 pounds of nonperishable food in 2021. This is a retail value of over $300,000.
Basics for Babies shifted from an in-person breakfast to a telethon style event hosted by B-100 and CFJC-Midday. The donations received at this event ensures the consistent availability of baby food, formula, diapers and hygiene products for children under the age of three.
BC Share coupons are available at most grocery stores in Kamloops. Customers have the option of adding two dollars to their bill which assists the Kamloops Food Bank with the purchase of healthy product.
The foodSHARE program has diverted over 18 million pounds of perishable food from the landfills, making it available to people in need.
Learn More
The Starfish Backpack Program helps feed 130 local school children by ensuring they have nutritious food for the weekend.
Learn More
The Baby Bank, which is largely supported by our annual Basics for Babies event, supports our youngest clients with formula, diapers and more.
Learn MoreWe are proud to offer our clients weekly access to healthy food.
Perishable
Available once per week, these hampers include items such as dairy, meat, produce, bread and premade deli meals.
Single, Couple, Family
Available once per month, these non-perishable hampers are prepared in various sizes to suit different household types and include pantry staples such as rice, noodles, soup, canned meat and canned vegetables.
High Protein, Pre/Post-Natal
Clients requiring a high protein diet as indicated by their physician receive high protein items or an increased opportunity to access perishable food items.
Transient
These hampers contain items that can be opened without a can opener and products which require minimal preparation.
foodSHARE is the largest food recovery program operated by a food bank in Western Canada. Over 18 million pounds diverted from the landfill since the program started in 2007 and delivered to 7,000 clients, 52 community agencies that make meals and local farmers who use expired product for animal feed. This initiative is zero waste. Healthy product including meat, dairy, produce and bakery items are available to our clients weekly.
Learn MoreAgencies
Schools
Associate Member Food Banks
Recognized as Essential Service
Covid-19 demanded a significant shift in our operations as regional, provincial, and federal governments recognized us as an ‘essential service’ for the most vulnerable in the communities we serve.
We Shifted Fast
Changing health protocols meant we modified our space, retrained staff and clients and reduced our volunteer numbers. Fundraisers went online and most importantly, we were serving individuals who had never before needed the Food Bank.
Unparalleled Need & Support
As weeks turned to months, our challenges evolved. Each met with unparalleled support. The response was like none other.
The Challenge That Remains
Despite this support, we faced a continued challenge - storage! We had been operating with multiple off-site rented storage solutions.
Directing Resources Toward Sustainable Future
Simple economics prohibits long term rental of off-site warehouse space. We must be ready for what the future brings. Solving our storage issue is part of ensuring our sustainability.
It is with respect and gratitude that the Kamloops Food Bank acknowledges our presence on Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc territory situated within the unceded ancestral lands of the Secwépemcúl̓ecw. We are committed to learning and working towards reconciliation along with fostering a culture of respect and equality for all.
