Dozens of people lined up in the crisp evening air outside Saanich Baptist Church on Thursday, not to attend mass, but to grocery shop.

Carrying reusable bags and pulling shopping trolleys, mothers with children, elderly people, newly immigrated families, individuals undergoing chemotherapy treatment and every manner of person in between waited their turn. Steps away, on the church patio lit by a few overhead lights and outdoor heaters, a bustling group of volunteers worked to fill each visitorB次元官网网址檚 needs.

B次元官网网址淎nd would you like some potatoes? Red or white?B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got some kale. Want some fresh kale?B次元官网网址�

The Neighbourhood Market isnB次元官网网址檛 like other food banks. Here, people donB次元官网网址檛 have to register, community is plentiful, thereB次元官网网址檚 no designated amount that they receive and fresh, healthy food is the priority. This week, volunteers are the most excited about the brie cheese they have to offer B次元官网网址� 80 pounds of it.

B次元官网网址淒airy is what people want,B次元官网网址� volunteer Gail Bones said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 too expensive for a lot of people to afford.B次元官网网址�

Also available are yogurt, butter, milk, local coffee, baked goods and every manner of fruit and vegetable. Prior to the pandemic, people actually got to pick out all their own goods themselves, just like they would at a grocery store.

B次元官网网址淚 think that weB次元官网网址檙e making people feel valued,B次元官网网址� said Rick Boomer, missions ministry director and organizer of the market. This is important B次元官网网址� de-stigmatizing accepting charity.

B次元官网网址淚t takes a lot of courage to line up at a place where you get free food,B次元官网网址� volunteer Rob Reinhart said. The volunteers work hard to make people feel comfortable, learning their names, their food preferences and their stories. They want it to be a place of community.

Friendships have been formed at the market, Boomer said proudly. He pointed out two women who bonded over a similar backstory of severe car accidents that left them unable to work. B次元官网网址淲ithout the market, they wouldnB次元官网网址檛 eat,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭hey literally donB次元官网网址檛 have any food money.B次元官网网址�

The Saanich market is one of 10 run across Greater Victoria by Living Edge, a not-for-profit project of the Anglican Network of Canada. But, Boomer has gone out of his way to make his own partnerships with producers and supply even more food to his market.

At the start of the pandemic, he reached out to food wholesaler, Sysco, which without its regular demand from restaurants had a sudden excess of food at its warehouse. Now, Boomer gets a pickup truck of donated goods from Sysco every Thursday morning.

B次元官网网址淚t is unbelievable,B次元官网网址� he said. A few weeks ago, he arrived at the warehouse and found a pallet full of 450 pounds of bacon waiting for him. Because the market primarily receives goods past their best-before dates, meat is rare and exciting.

In the summer, Boomer and volunteers spent time at Gatton House Farm where New Zealand born farmer Jason Austin devotes his land to growing for charity.

B次元官网网址淲e started with blank fields, we roto-tilled it all, we planted it all, we harvested it all and then we handed it all out,B次元官网网址� Boomer said. Often times, they were handing out produce so fresh it still had that morningB次元官网网址檚 dirt on it.

For Boomer it is these partnerships, this gathering of community around a common cause, that make the markets so special. He pointed out that their one market is run by volunteers from five different churches and that the purpose isnB次元官网网址檛 to spread any one of their religious messages.

B次元官网网址淵es we are the church, but when you come and see whatB次元官网网址檚 going on weB次元官网网址檙e not asking anything. All weB次元官网网址檙e doing is giving,B次元官网网址� he said.

More information on where and when each market is can be found at .