Introduction
The Kamloops Food Bank is committed to an equitable and accessible environment for ourclients, staff, board members, volunteers and donors. Our mandate is to share food and feedhope while adhering to our values of respect, integrity and compassion.
In fulfilling this mandate, we recognize that among those experiencing food insecurity, as well asthose who step up to support our mandate by working, volunteering or donating to the Food Bank, include racialized groups, Indigenous peoples, those with long term health conditions, the 2SLGBTQPIA+ community and people with disabilities. Likewise, the Kamloops Food Bank, like food banks across Canada, is serving an increasing number of refugees and people who have recently immigrated to Canada which has broadened the diversity of our client population.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that, through education, advocacy and oversight, the Kamloops Food Bank continuously strives to achieve the following:
- Accessibility: Ensure people with disabilities can access services on an equal basis with others by removing barriers including barriers within our physical space, attitudes, policies, technologies or the ways through which we communicate.
- Dignity: Delivering services in a way that supports the self-respect of the person and recognizes their inherent value.
- Equity: Achieving parity among all we serve, especially those of historically marginalized people and groups, through our policies, processes, and outcomes.
We recognize that a commitment to equity, diversion and inclusivity is a continuous process, and we will continue to learn and find meaningful ways to eliminate barriers and promote equity and inclusion in all that we do.
Implementation Plan
Accessibility
The Kamloops Food Bank will give people with disabilities the same opportunity to access our services and resources in similar ways as other users. To do so we commit to the following:
- Assistive Devices: Persons with disabilities will be permitted to obtain services using assistive devices. Our staff will be familiar with various assistive devices. If an assistive device may pose a risk to health and safety of the stakeholder or others on the premises, we will accommodate the stakeholder by providing an alternative where possible.
- Communication: We will communicate with people in ways that consider their disability.
- Support Persons: Support persons that accompany someone with a disability are permitted the same access as the person they are accompanying.
- Physical Space: Ensure our facilities are accessible to all, including modifications to existing spaces to enhance accessibility.
- Policy Review: Any of our existing policies that do not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
Any of our existing policies that do not respect and promote the dignity and independence of people with disabilities will be modified or removed.
Diversity and Inclusion
At the Kamloops Food Bank, we strive to embrace, empower, and celebrate differences. To do so, we commit to the following:
- Welcoming Environment: Make everyone feel welcome. Minimize religious symbols, offer visual cues that we offer a safe space for 2SLGBTQPIA+ clients, staff, and volunteers, and make space for pronouns in how stakeholders interact with us in person and online.
- Discrimination and Harassment-Free Zone: Ensure our food bank is free from discrimination and harassment.
- Listening and Support: Listen to and strive to support diverse needs and experiences.
- Cultural Sensitivity: Seek to provide cross-cultural food options.
- Inclusive Language: Use inclusive, gender-neutral language in all communications.
- Representation: Reflect the racial diversity of our community within our physical space and within our communication tools.
- Diverse Workforce: Increase the diversity of representation within our staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors.
- Strategic Integration: Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into the organization’s strategic plan and that all actions are viewed through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens.
- Training and Education: Provide regular training and educational opportunities for staff, volunteers, and board members on topics related to equity, diversity, and inclusion.
- Ensure that diversity and inclusion are integrated into the organization’s strategic plan and that all actions are viewed through an equity, diversity, and inclusion lens.
Monitoring and Accountability
To ensure the effectiveness of this policy, the Kamloops Food Bank will:
- Regular Reviews: Conduct regular reviews of our policies, practices, and programs to ensure they are inclusive and equitable.
- Feedback Mechanism: Establish a mechanism for clients, staff, volunteers, and donors to provide feedback on our equity, diversity, and inclusion practices.
- Annual Reporting: Report annually to the Board of Directors on our progress in achieving the goals outlined in this policy.
Conclusion
The Kamloops Food Bank is dedicated to providing an equitable and accessible environment for our clients, staff and volunteers, and recognizing and accommodating the diversity of those we serve. We know that this is a process of listening, learning and continuous improvement and this policy guides our efforts.
Policy Approval
This policy has been reviewed and approved by the Kamloops Food Bank’s Board of Directors on July 23, 2024.
