Our History

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society was founded in 1989 by two women in Pitt Meadows who saw a need to assist the hungry in our community. Since then, our food bank has expanded and grown extensively through client services and hamper distribution.

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society now operates out of a 3,200-square-foot warehouse in the heart of Maple Ridge. Our food bank has over 3,000 registered clients.

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society also supports a secondary depot out of the Grace Community Church in Pitt Meadows. It provides food for the Seniors’ Food Bank at the Ridge Meadows Seniors Society and the Katzie Reserve Food Bank.

Our food bank distributes over 650 hampers per month and provides supplies to over 20 other community agencies and programs, including our School Meal and Snack Program with SD42. Our main source of food donations come from local grocers, retailers and community members who donate individually or through their own food drives or community events.

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society is a member of Food Banks BC and Food Banks Canada. We strictly abide by their Code of Ethics and do not promote door-to-door or telephone solicitation. We are a registered charity with the Canada Revenue Agency and a registered non-profit organization.

Our Mission

The Friends in Need Food Bank Society exists to support residents in need in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. It is our mission to ensure no one in our community ever goes hungry.

We cooperate with many community organizations and share and redistribute food to organizations that also provide services to people in need. We are advocates for those we serve and strive to promote the awareness of hunger in our community. We believe preserving the self-esteem and dignity of those we serve is as equally important as providing food.

Constitution and Bylaws

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Board of Directors

Chairperson	Lynda J. Lawrence
Vice Chair	Gwen O’Connell
Secretary	Debbie MacRae/Ineke Boekhorst
Treasurer	Jonie Lagrange
Directors	Ahmed Yousef
	Lindsay Norcross
	Eva Boyd
	Sandra Ramsay

Management Team

Executive Director	Mary Robson
General Manager	Evan Seal
PFRP/School Meal Program Coordinator	Karen Osborne
Volunteer Coordinator/Client Services	Nancy Nagy
Warehouse Operations	Jeff McGiverin
Pitt Meadows Operations Manager	Clare Devlin

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Our Programs

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Our Community Partners

Programs and Community Partnerships of Friends in Need Food Bank Society

1. School Breakfast and Snack Program

The program was established in September 2016 after a successful pilot project from January to June 2016. Friends in Need Food Bank (FIN) provides each week during the school year food to elementary schools and outreach programs in School District 42 based on the individual needs of the school. This allows breakfast and snacks to be made on-site for anywhere between 10 and 80 students per day. Schools submit their order at the end of each week and which are delivered at the beginning of the following week. These items include fresh dairy products such as milk, eggs, cheese, yogurt, baked goods, etc. As of September 2018, we now deliver to every school in SD42 and seven alternative education programs with the exception of the Environmental School.

2. Starfish Backpack Program

Launched in September 2016 as a partnership between Meadowridge Rotary Club, Friends in Need Food Bank, Black Press and other community sponsors, the Starfish Backpack Program provides children with weekends worth of food (six meals) in backpacks taken home on Fridays and returned Mondays. The cost to sponsor one backpack for a school year is $575.

3. St. Georges Street Ministry – Currently Suspended Due to COVID-19

They provide meals each Saturday and FIN provides bread, buns, cheese, meats, snacks, fruit, beverages and produce as needed.

4. Petal’s

Every other Tuesday, Petal’s provides meals to women on the street and FIN provides bread, buns and on occasion, we provide toiletries and personals.

5. Community Outreach Services

We provide, in partnership with the different agencies, emergency food, personal care items, diapers, etc. for their clients, and then work with them to get those clients registered at FIN. FIN also refers its clients to other community agencies when required and provides information of community resources.

6. Monthly Hampers and Weekly Access

FIN provides low-income families and individuals with a three-to-five-day supply of essential foods monthly. For our shut-in clients, we provide a home delivery service every two weeks. Clients may visit the food banks on a weekly basis to receive extras which include bread, bakery items, deli, dairy, meat and fresh produce as available.

7. Protein & Produce Program

Each client receives produce and protein (as available) on a weekly basis through the Perishable Food Recovery Program.

8. Milk and Eggs Program and Special Dietary Needs

Women throughout their term of pregnancy receive milk and eggs every two weeks from the date we receive a doctor’s note until the child reaches the age of one. Diapers will be provided twice a month until the child reaches the age of three.

Children up to age 16 receive 1 litre of milk and 1 dozen eggs twice a month. When there are more than two children in a family, then two litres of milk will be provided twice a month.

Seniors aged 55 and above receive 1 litre of milk twice a month and a dozen eggs once a month. If two seniors live in one household, then they receive 2 litres of milk. People with special dietary needs are eligible to receive milk and eggs when requested by a doctor’s note.

9. Special Needs

FIN supports needs of clients who have special dietary requirements, including persons with diabetes, cancer and celiac disease when product is available.

10. Basics for Babies

To any mother who is expecting or has a child up to age one, FIN provides milk and eggs with the hamper as well as a one-time layette containing new baby items once the baby is born. The mother must bring in the baby’s birth bracelet. They also have access to diapers, formula and baby food. This program is funded by JRFM’s annual Basics for Babies Campaign.

To any family with kids up to age 16, FIN provides milk with the hamper.

Pregnant mothers receive milk and eggs every two weeks from the date we receive a doctor’s note until the child reaches the age of one. Diapers and wipes are provided twice a month until the child reaches the age of three.

11. Kids’ Pack Program

For children who are in K-7, FIN provides kids’ packs every week all year round, including the summer months. Kids’ packs include granola bars, fruit cups/jello, juice or water.

12. School Supply Packs: - Suspended Due to COVID-19

Friends in Need partners with the Salvation Army to provide school supply packs to families in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows at the Salvation Army’s Back to School Fair.

13. Feed the Mind and First Book Programs

New books are available for clients and children through Black Bond Books Maple Ridge and Community Literacy Committee. New books obtained from First Books Canada at no cost to the FIN are included in the birthday bags assembled by volunteers for children based on their age level.

14. Personal Care Program

Twice a year, FIN gives out personal care packages to senior clients, which may include items such as toothpaste/brushers, shampoo, soap, deodorant, etc. FIN also provides packs to the Seniors Network for seniors in need.

15. Women’s Care

These products are given out once a month and provided to women up to the age of 55.

16. Post-Secondary Programs/Degrees

FIN accepts two students on a regular basis who require volunteer hours and/or hands-on experience for people working on their degrees or practicums in social services. (Sprott Shaw College, WorkBC and Discovery Community College, Triangle Resources)

Organizations We Provide Food To (October 2020)

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