NanaimoB次元官网网址檚 food bank has received a multimillion-dollar grant to assist with construction of its new warehouse facility.
Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank will receive $7 million from the provincial government, B.C. Minister of Social Development and Poverty Reduction Sheila Malcolmson announced at a press conference Thursday, May 18.
The 24,000-square-foot warehouse and accompanying three-storey office building is planned for a site on East Wellington Road. In addition to reception and food storage areas, plans include a place for recyclable bottles to be sorted as part of the food bankB次元官网网址檚 Empties 4 Food program.
Peter Sinclair, Loaves and FishesB次元官网网址� executive director, said it was B次元官网网址渁 monumental day for the communityB次元官网网址� as more and more people seem to need the food bankB次元官网网址檚 services.
B次元官网网址淲hen we look at a particular month compared to the same month last year, we are seeing increases between 40 and 50 per cent,B次元官网网址� said Sinclair. B次元官网网址淭hat is a significant burden and challenge for us, but we are committed to doing everything we can to maximize the food that we are able to provide when people come.B次元官网网址�
He said the non-profit hopes to receive a building permit within the next year and break ground by next summer. An additional $5 million is sought for construction and Sinclair said the group plans to reach out to the federal government. The total cost of the project is estimated at $11.5 million, he said, and the charity is mindful of current economic conditions.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e tried to be very prudent in our budgeting here in light of inflation and other financial challenges,B次元官网网址� said Sinclair.
Malcolmson said money is going to the sort of project that aligns with the governmentB次元官网网址檚 strategy to reduce poverty. She said the $7 million comes from a $200-million food security announcement that Premier David Eby made with ministers earlier this year.
B次元官网网址淲e want everybody to have access to the fresh, nutritious food that they need to have healthy families to have food in their bellies to be able to go to school and go to work and be healthy,B次元官网网址� said Malcolmson. B次元官网网址淭hat has been challenged, absolutely, by the intensely increased cost of food due to global inflation.B次元官网网址�
Loaves and Fishes not only services the Nanaimo area, but areas across the Island as well.
The City of Nanaimo and Loaves and Fishes partnered on a 30-year lease agreement last year.
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