School Meal and Snack Program
One of the programs that we are most proud of is the School Meal/Snack Program which began in January 2016.
The Friends In Need Food Bank provides at the beginning of each week during the school year, food to elementary schools, high schools, and outreach/alternate education programs in School District 42 (SD42) based on the needs identified by the participating schools. Schools may provide a sit-down breakfast, lunch and/or snacks prepared on site for anywhere from 5 to 180 students per day or sharing baskets.
We have seen a sizeable increase this school year with an additional 1,500 students accessing the program. Numbers provided in May 2023 reveal more than 5,000 students in SD42 benefit daily from a school meal/snack program.
We are very proud of the contribution the Friends In Need Food Bank has made to ensure no child goes hungry in our community. If children are hungry they cannot learn. The program has proven its need and value with testimonials received from the schools endorsing the School Meal/Snack Program and reporting improvement in both attendance and punctuality.
Background
In September 2016, we geared up to provide the same service, setting a budget for the 2016/2017 School Year. Grants were obtained from Walmart’s Community Giving,
Pepsico Foundation Grant through Food Banks Canada, Maple Ridge Community Foundation Grant and the Kiwanis Club of Golden Ears. We also had several business and private donations such as Maple Ridge Chrysler and fundraisers from several of the schools in SD42. At the end of the school year, June 2017, we were providing food to 17 of the 20 elementary schools, 7 alternative education programs and 1 high school. More than 500 elementary students and over 300 high school students were now benefitting from the program.
As of May 2023, we are delivering on a weekly basis to 33 schools including alternative education programs in SD42 benefitting more than 5,000 students.
Each school year, we apply for grants and fundraise for this program. We have been successful in obtaining grants from the the Breakfast Club of Canada, Maple Ridge Community Foundation and the Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund. We have also been the recipient of several fundraisers, such as the Epic Home Golf Tournament, Broken Balls Golf Tournament, Envision Financial Golf Tournament, Meadow Ridge Rotary Club, Rotary Club of Haney, McDonald Realty, Knights of Columbus, CUPE Local 703, Iron Workers Local 97, Meadow Ridge School and numerous individuals. SD42 schools also support the program in their annual fundraising efforts and food drives. To support this program, please contact
program coordinator, Karen Osborne at
604-466-3663 ext. 203 or Kids
@FriendsNeedFood.com


There is no reason for any of our youth to go hungry in our community.

Starfish Backpack Program
As of September 2020, we are providing 130 Starfish backpacks to school kids both in Maple Ridge (11 schools) and Pitt Meadows (4 schools).