PACS Food Bank>

Mission Statement

To provide nutritious food and support to community members in need; to raise awareness about poverty and involve the community in solutions.

Mandate

To provide enough food for each person for 2 days per week. In addition, school-age children receive supplementary food for 2 school lunches per week; diapers, baby formula & food are offered for babies. On-site shower & laundry facilities for the "homeless" and other food bank registrants who do not have access elsewhere to these facilities.  Donated clothing, household and personal hygiene items are also available.  Additional seasonal provisions include fresh garden produce in the summer and school supplies in the fall.

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Support

Do you need the support of PACS food bank?  For more information, call us during regular hours of operation.

Want to support your local food bank?  There are many ways to donate:

1 - Donate money and receive a tax-deductible receipt.  With a monetary donation, the food bank can "buy more for less", buy what we need when we need it (often from local farmers), without the problems of expiry dates and storage.  You can donate by mail, in person (during hours of operation) or over the internet by visiting this link at canadahelps.org and clicking on "Food bank"  in the "Fund Designation" section.

2 - Donate nutritious food.  Please refer to our list of suggestions for "HEALTHY CHOICES" (see below)

3 - Donate your time by volunteering.  76 volunteers work with 3 part-time staff to successfully operate the food bank; for the month of December (our time for annual fundraising and food drives to sustain the food bank), we need a great deal of temporary help!

4 - Recycle your inkjet cartridges and cell phones to the food bank's thINK Inkjet Cartridge Recycling Program & the Electric Brick Cell Phone Recycling Program.  By dropping off inkjet & laser cartridges, and cell phones (at the food bank or at other drop off sites), you will help to save the environment while bringing income to our food bank.

5 - Plant a row in your garden for donating to the food bank.

PLEASE NOTE THAT PACS FOOD BANK DOES NOT SOLICIT BY PHONE OR DOOR-TO-DOOR, AS AGREED UPON BY MEMBERS OF THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF FOOD BANKS.

Harvest Box

What is the "Harvest Box"?  The Harvest Box is a low cost nutritious food purchasing program that provides (once a month) a box of fresh local produce for $6 per box.  The food bank works collaboratively with other community organizations to operate this program in order to increase access to affordable nutritious foods and to increase community health.

 

Food Policy

What is” Community Food Security”?  Community Food Security exists when all community members have access to a safe and nutritionally adequate diet through a local food system that is environmentally- sound and sustainable while maximizing self- reliance & social justice. Community Food Security works towards 3 outcomes:

 -  decreased hunger

 -  increased local food sustainability

 -  improved nutritional health

PACS Food Bank is a member of the Food Action Coalition's Steering Committee.  The long term vision of the committee's project is that food policy be integrated into community decision making in Surrey and White Rock in order to enhance community food security.

What is Food policy?  Food Policy is the METHOD this group has chosen to work toward community food security.

 

Healthy Choices when choosing food donations, please consider healthy choices.

 “EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT TO SAFE & HEALTHY FOOD”

The link between poor diet and illness is well–established. Concerns grow with the alarming increase in diseases such as diabetes, coronary heart disease, and obesity- health conditions that are evident at the food bank.

 

People living on a low income do not have access to enough nutritious food to meet their health needs.

 

PACS Food Bank provides recipients with enough food for 2 -3 days per week; therefore, it is doubly important that food we distribute is nutritious.

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SUGGESTED “HEALTHY CHOICES” FOOD DONATIONS FOR PACS FOOD BANK:

 

• Canned Protein:  Tuna, Salmon, Sardines, Chicken
• Peanut Butter (no added sugar)
• Milk powder
• Brown Rice
• Whole Grain Pastas
• Oatmeal ( with no sugar added; whole flakes preferred)
• Legumes – lentils, beans (no added sugar)
• Fresh Fruit and Vegetables (if able to withstand storage until distribution days: Tuesdays & Wednesdays) 
• Canned Vegetables
• Canned Fruit (no added sugar)
• Fruit Juice – 100%  ( no added sugar)
• Oil (preferably olive and safflower) 

November 2007